Clearer sight after cataract surgery can make a later return of haze especially confusing. At Milwaukee Eye Surgeons in Brookfield, WI, Kenneth Weinlander, MD treats cataracts and postoperative vision concerns. Dr. Weinlander is a board-certified ophthalmologist and fellowship-trained cornea specialist. If your sight was sharp after cataract surgery and has gradually become cloudy again, posterior capsule opacification (PCO) may be one explanation.
Can a Cataract Grow Back?
No. Cataract surgery removes the cloudy natural lens and replaces it with a clear intraocular lens, or IOL. The artificial lens stays in the thin natural capsule that supported your original lens. Our guide to artificial lens options explains more about the implants used during cataract surgery.
Over time, that capsule can become hazy. This is PCO, sometimes called a “secondary cataract,” even though the original cataract has not returned.
What Does PCO Feel Like?
PCO can develop weeks, months, or even years after surgery. You may notice that colors or details seem less crisp, headlights produce more glare, or your eyesight has a hazy quality. Because PCO often develops gradually, you may first notice it while reading small print, driving at night, or moving between bright and dim settings. These changes can resemble the early signs of cataracts, which is why symptoms alone cannot tell you what is happening.
Some blur is expected during the first few days of healing. If your vision improved and then became cloudy later, that timing is worth mentioning at your eye exam. Our article about activities after cataract surgery also explains what to expect during early recovery.
When Should Cloudy Vision Be Checked?
A comprehensive eye exam can help distinguish PCO from other causes of blurred sight. During the exam, we can assess the lens capsule and check the rest of the eye for another explanation for the change.
Do not assume a sudden change is PCO. New flashes, a sudden increase in floaters, a curtain-like shadow, or an abrupt loss of vision should be checked promptly because those symptoms can signal a retinal problem.
When PCO is the cause, our office can treat the cloudy capsule with a painless laser procedure. The goal is to clear the visual pathway while leaving the IOL in place.
Have Returning Haze Evaluated in Brookfield
If your vision has become hazy again after cataract surgery, we can examine your eyes and explain what is causing the change. Contact us at Milwaukee Eye Surgeons in Brookfield, WI, or call 414-377-5550 to request an evaluation.
