CRYSTAL LENS

Will I have to have cataract surgery again?

Once your cataracts are removed and replaced with an artificial lens, you will never have to have cataract surgery again. Occasionally, several months after the lens has been placed in the eye, the vision may start to become cloudy once again. This is sometimes called a secondary cataract and refers to the clouding of the membrane that surrounds the implant. This membrane (the capsular bag) originally surrounded the human lens. When the cataract was removed, all that remained was this membrane into which the artificial lens was implanted. The membrane healed around the artificial lens, securely holding it in place in the eye. Unfortunately, sometimes the same conditions that caused the original cataract will cause the build up of cells on the membrane behind the implant. These cells will block the vision and have to be removed. A laser is used to make an opening in the membrane behind the implant, immediately improving vision. This is done painlessly without an anesthetic and takes just a few minutes. Once this is done no further surgery related to your cataracts will be required.

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