What causes capsular opacification?
Posterior capsular opacification is caused mainly by remnant lens epithelial cell proliferation and migration, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, collagen deposition, and lens fiber generation. All of these processes are influenced by cytokines, growth factors, and extracellular matrix proteins.
What is the treatment for posterior capsular opacification?
Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) is the most common complication of cataract surgery. PCO can cause significant visual symptoms and is effectively treated with laser capsulotomy.
Does posterior capsule opacification get worse over time?
With a posterior capsule opacification, the haziness you see will only get worse without treatment. Remember what your sight was like before undergoing cataract surgery? That’s what your vision may be like if you opt not to have a YAG laser capsulotomy. Left untreated, the capsule will continue thickening.
Is posterior capsule opacification an emergency?
What happens if PCO is not treated? PCO is not a serious disease nor is it an emergency. If it is not treated, it will increase with time and cause deterioration of vision.
What causes opacification after cataract surgery?
PCO occurs because cells remaining after cataract surgery grow over the back (posterior) of the capsule causing it to thicken and become slightly opaque (cloudy). This means that light is less able to travel through to the retina at the back of your eye.
How do I know if I have posterior capsular opacification?
Posterior Capsule Opacification symptoms are very similar to cataract symptoms. These include: blurring of vision, glare in daytime or when driving and difficulty seeing near objects that were clear after cataract surgery.
How do you know if you have posterior capsular opacification?
How common is posterior capsular opacification?
Posterior capsular opacification (PCO) occurs when a cloudy layer of scar tissue forms behind your lens implant. This may cause you to have blurry or hazy vision, or to see a lot of glare from lights. PCO is fairly common after cataract surgery, occurring in about 20% of patients.
How do you fix cloudy vision after cataract surgery?
A quick and painless procedure known as a laser capsulotomy can correct PCO. It treats the problem by creating an opening in the cloudy capsule tissue. The opening restores clear vision by allowing light to travel through the eye again. Your eye will be numbed before the laser procedure for your comfort.
How can posterior capsular opacification be prevented?
The most important contribution to preventing PCO is to use an IOL with a square edge. In particular, I recommend using a 360° square-edged IOL. I do not think that the implantation of a capsular tension ring can reduce the incidence of PCO.
Can vision get worse after cataract surgery?
No, your vision generally doesn’t deteriorate after cataract surgery unless other problems arise, such as macular degeneration or glaucoma. In cataract surgery, the eye doctor (ophthalmologist) removes the clouded lens from your eye and replaces it with a clear, artificial lens.