Can Cataracts Grow Back After Surgery?

There’s a lot of confusion over what are often mistakenly called secondary cataracts. While there is a condition where similar symptoms to a cataract can occur after removal, the answer to, “Do cataracts come back after surgery?” is a resounding no.

So… Where does this uncertainty come from? 

As a world-leading clinic specializing in the field of all things cataract-related, we want to explain once and for all why some people experience a return of issues, such as blurring and photosensitivity, after having a cataract operation.

Demystifying the Myth of Secondary Cataracts

OK, let’s make one thing very clear. Once removed, a cataract cannot regrow. During the operation, the natural lens is removed and replaced with an artificial one—an intraocular lens, or IOL. This means that the cataract, which is a buildup of proteins that have clumped together on the lens over time, is gone for good. Bye-bye, never to be seen again…

But what is left is a small portion of the capsule in which the lens sat. We need to leave this in place as an anchoring point for the IOL. In a small number of cases, proteins can clump together on this, causing similar symptoms to the original cataract.

While this used to be quite common—occurring in anything from 20%-50% of cases in the 1980s and 1990s—today’s numbers are dramatically lower. Indeed, the American Academy of Ophthalmology says that, thanks to the incredible advancements of IOLs, surgical instruments, and improved procedures in the past few years, this could be lower than 5% of patients.

The name for this condition is Posterior Capsule Opacification, or PCO. It can happen at any point after cataract surgery but is most commonly seen around the 2–5-year stage. 

Symptoms include:

• Blurred or hazy vision.
• Faded colors.
• Issues with glare and seeing halos around lights.
• Difficulty reading and with close-up vision.

For anyone who’s had cataracts, these symptoms probably sound depressingly familiar. But the good news is that PCO is easily (and permanently) fixable.

How Ophthalmologists Treat Posterior Capsule Opacification

Treating PCO is fast and painless—far less intense than your original cataract operation, you’ll be glad to know.

The procedure is called YAG Laser Capsulotomy (YAG stands for Yttrium Aluminum Garnet). It’s basically a laser beam, which is used to create a small opening in the lens capsule that’s become cloudy. This allows the light to flow freely through the eye without being disrupted by the proteins that have clumped on the capsule. It takes a couple of minutes, and you’ll usually see the benefits within a day or two.

The recovery time is minimal and, although YAG laser doesn’t usually require a follow-up appointment, we’ll probably book you in for a sight test soon after. While the procedure probably won’t change your prescription, this will be more accurate once your PCO symptoms are resolved.

As for aftereffects, these are minimal. The most likely issue would be the appearance of some minor new floaters. These usually disappear after a few days and are simply the remnants of the proteins floating in the eye jelly (vitreous).

Treatment is highly successful and rarely, if ever, needs to be repeated, although we do have that option should any slight symptoms remain.

Hopefully, that has cleared up much of the common misunderstandings surrounding the return of cataracts after surgery. At the Modern Cataract Surgery Clinic, we continue to push the boundaries of cataract treatment. From utilizing the latest, cutting-edge procedures and IOLs, to playing an active part in the worldwide advancement of the surgery itself, our expert team is passionate about ensuring that our patients benefit from their best possible vision.

Discover more at https://www.moderncataractsurgery.com/ and call our friendly team today to book a consultation.