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Will I Have to Have Cataract Surgery More than Once?

January 17th, 2018

You had your cataract surgery several months or even years ago and it was life changing! You can now read your social media posts keeping up with the kids’ and grandkids’ activities and settle down at night with one of the latest best-selling novels on your must-read list. You can drive confidently and enjoy a round of golf with friends.

Cataract surgery gives you the freedom to enjoy your life – the way you want to live it.

Cataract removal is one of the most common, safe and effective ophthalmological procedures performed in the U.S. today, enjoying a highly favorable success rate.

But in rare instances, some individuals who had successful cataract surgery begin to experience cloudy vision again – weeks, months or even years after the initial surgery. Have cataracts, which are an inevitable part of getting older, returned for a second go-round?

In a word? No. Cataracts do not regrow. They simply cannot because the natural lens has now been replaced.

Cataract surgery complications are rare. And remember? Cataract surgery is among the most common and most successful surgical procedures performed in America today. In fact, according to the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), 3 million Americans undergo cataract surgery each year, with an overall success rate of 98 percent or higher.* Those are great odds!

What Causes Cloudy Vision After Cataract Surgery?

So, just why would someone experience cloudy vision again after cataract surgery?

There are a few possible reasons. The most common (although still rare) complication is posterior capsule opacification.

To be clear, after cataract surgery, there is no such thing as cataract regrowth. However, there is a small chance that a protein film will form across the “back” capsule. When this happens, people tend to notice their vision gets a little blurry and there can be a glare at night. This process can take up to a year or two to cause visual blurring.

This is not a return of cataracts, and there is no need to be alarmed.

If determined to be a case of posterior capsule opacification, a YAG laser is used to create a circular opening in the back of the cloudy capsule to match the one in the front, allowing light to pass clearly to the nerves and retina, restoring vision once and for all.

The simple, in-office procedure is called a capsulotomy and the experienced surgeons at Kleiman Evangelista Eye Centers will have you back to enjoying your life with a clear vision in no time. The procedure is virtually painless, requiring less than 10 minutes per eye.

*Clouding of the back capsule is considered a medical disease, similar to the cataract itself. The YAG laser is billable and typically covered by most health insurance plans. A Kleiman Evangelista Eye Centers insurance specialist can help you with all the necessary documentation.

Turn to the trusting hands of the precision-skilled surgeons at Kleiman Evangelista Eye Centers to begin healing and regaining your quality of life through your own eyes.

For your care, comfort and convenience, we have Kleiman Evangelista Eye Centers locations throughout the Metroplex and beyond: Dallas, Arlington, Plano, Mount Pleasant, Gun Barrel City and Southlake. Click here to schedule your cataract evaluation to get your sight back on track.

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