Do Cataracts Grow Back?

By Jeffrey Martin, MD

Published on April 27, 2010

In cataract surgery, the cloudy crystalline lens of the eye is removed. A cataract is a natural clouding of the lens of the eye. During cataract surgery, the entire lens substance is removed through a capsulorhexis, an opening in the lens capsule made by the cataract surgeon. After the lens is removed, an intraocular lens is placed to restore vision. In Dr. Jeffrey Martin Long Island cataract surgery practice, no stitches, needles around the eyes, or eye patches are used. Dr. Martin operates using IV sedation and eye drops to numb the ocular surface.

In some patients, the capsule that held the defective lens and now holds the intraocular lens implant can cloud over. This is called capsule opacification and the symptoms can be similar to those caused by the original cataract. Patients with posterior capsule opacification complain of blurred vision and glare. This opacification is not the original cataract coming back, but it is a clouding of the capsule that held the cataract. In cases like this, we use a laser to gently remove the central cloudy capsule, restoring vision. A Yag Capsulotomy is relatively simple with few side effects. There is a small chance of retinal detachment, but this risk is under 1 percent.