Why Do I Have Blurred Vision After Cataract Surgery?

“I remember my grandmother having cataract surgery about 30 years ago, when I was in junior college. She was anxious, and the protective shield had been taped so tightly that it left a bruise around her eye. Years later her vision turned blurry again. She put off having her eyes checked because she was afraid she would need another operation.”

That memory is with me every time I look after a patient having cataract surgery. Most of the worry comes from not knowing what to expect, so I make a point of explaining everything, before the surgery and long after it.

So, to answer the question: no, a cataract does not come back once it has been removed. What can happen, months or even years later, is that your vision turns hazy again. This is called posterior capsule opacification, or PCO, and it is often called a secondary cataract. It is common, it is easily treated, and it does not mean your surgery went wrong.

Why does it happen?

Your natural lens sits inside a thin, clear bag called the capsule. During cataract surgery, I remove the cloudy lens through a very small opening and place your new lens inside that same capsule. A few tiny lens cells can be left behind. Over time they may grow across the back of the capsule, behind your new lens, and cloud it like frosted glass. It is simply how some eyes heal.

How will I know if I have it?

Most patients tell me the same story. The vision was wonderfully clear after surgery, and then it slowly became blurred or dull again. You may notice glare or halos around lights at night, colours that look less vivid, or more difficulty with reading and driving. Because it happens so gradually, many people assume the cataract has returned.

When should I have my eyes checked?

Please come in if your vision is no longer as sharp as it was after surgery, if glare is bothering you, or if it has been more than a year since your last review. A short examination is all it takes to tell PCO apart from other causes of blurred vision, and I would always rather check than have you wait and wonder, as my grandmother did.

The treatment: YAG laser capsulotomy

PCO is treated with a YAG laser capsulotomy. After numbing drops, a laser makes a small opening in the clouded capsule so that light can pass through to the retina again. There are no cuts and no stitches, and it takes only a few minutes. Most patients feel little or no discomfort, and many notice clearer vision within hours, as soon as the drops wear off.

I perform this at The EyeClinic by Dr Cheryl Lee, where our YAG laser is on site. You do not need to be admitted to hospital, and you can go home straight afterwards.

Once the opening has been made, PCO does not usually return, so the treatment is normally needed only once. Like any procedure, it has small risks, and I will go through them with you at your consultation. I also check the rest of your eye first, because if something else is affecting your vision, you should know that before the laser.

Please do not put it off

A hazy lens can quietly take away your confidence in the dark, on the road and at your desk. It is one of the simplest problems in eye care to put right, and the sooner it is treated, the sooner you get your clear vision back.

If your sight has become blurry again after cataract surgery, book a review with me. I will explain exactly what is happening and what to expect, so that you are not left worrying.