Is posterior capsular opacification a cataract?

Posterior capsule opacification (PCO), often referred to as “secondary cataract,” is the most common postoperative complication of cataract extraction.

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 PCO in eyes?

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 quickly does PCO develop?

PCO involves lens epithelial cell growth and proliferation, leading reduced visual acuity, and may develop in a few months to years following cataract surgery [4, 5].

Can PCO cause blindness?

Overt time, this capsule can become cloudy, leading to blurred vision and PCO. Blurry vision caused by PCO can occur weeks, months, or even years after you have cataract surgery. How is posterior capsule opacification treated? Similar to an actual cataract, PCO cause vision loss over time.

What causes PCO eye?

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 common is PCO after cataract surgery?

Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) is the most frequent complication of cataract surgery and can develop soon after to a few years post-procedure [1, 2], with incidence figures ranging from <5% to as high as 50% [3].

How is PCO corrected?

PCO is treated by a very low risk, quick, painless laser treatment. It is carried out in the outpatient clinic. If you have PCO in both eyes, then it is possible to have treatment for both on the same day. At the appointment you will be given some eye drops to dilate (widen) your pupil.

How many people get PCO after cataract surgery?

What is PCO in the eye?

Posterior capsular opacification (PCO) is the most frequent complication of cataract surgery. This condition affects 1 out of 4 patients within 5 years of undergoing cataract surgery. A posterior capsular opacification is also known as a secondary cataract.

What are the symptoms of posterior capsule opacification?

– a new batch of floaters – flashing lights – a dark curtain moving up, down or across your vision.

Does YAG cure posterior capsule opacification?

Yes. Posterior capsule opacification impairs visual acuity, reduces contrast sensitivity and causes glare – all of which degrade the quality of a patient’s vision. YAG capsulotomy cures posterior capsule opacification (PCO) and reverses all of these effects.

How soon can PCO appear after cataract surgery?

Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) occurs as a result of natural post-surgical wound healing in the eye, and can lead to patients losing some of their vision months or years after undergoing cataract surgery

What is posterior capsular opacity?

Posterior capsular opacity is an eye condition characterized by the formation of secondary cataracts on the back the eye’s lens following cataract surgery. Known as posterior capsular opacification, secondary cataract development is not uncommon and is frequently associated with lens replacement.