Capsular thickening

The capsule is the outer bag  of the natural lens that is left behind during surgery to hold the artificial lens or implant. Over time, in some patients, this outer shell becomes cloudy, a condition known as capsular thickening or secondary cataract. The patient will notice vision becoming blurred – just like it did with the original cataract.

Treatment

Capsular opacification (secondary cataract) is treated using a YAG laser and this is a brief and painless out-patient procedure.  The pupil will be dilated at the time and the laser makes a new clear pathway in the area of the pupil, allowing light to reach the back of the eye. Patients will usually notice an improvement in vision as soon as the pupil constricts to its normal size.

This procedure takes approximately 5 minutes and there are no post-operative restrictions. Patients may notice spots or floaters in their vision after the procedure. This is normal and will become less noticeable as the floaters are absorbed by the eye.