Blog / Can Cataracts Come Back

Can cataracts come back?

You’ve been to see your optician as you are suffering with blurred vision and your prescription glasses are no longer doing the job. They’ve diagnosed cataracts and referred you to an eye specialist who has booked you in for surgery. You’re looking forward to restored vision and getting back to the activities that you enjoy, but you’ve started to wonder: can cataracts come back?

A cataract itself cannot grow back due to the fact that your natural lens is completely removed during surgery and replaced with an artificial one.

However, there is a condition that can develop known as Posterior Capsular Opacification (PCO), also known as ‘secondary cataract’ or ‘after-cataract’, whereby the natural tissue that surrounds your artificial lens begins to thicken. This can happen months, or even years, after surgery and will result in the return of cataract symptoms such as cloudy or blurry vision and problems with bright lights, especially at night time. Consequently, performing everyday activities may become difficult once again.

We understand how frustrating this can be when you’ve been through a successful surgical procedure, considered to be one of the safest available in the UK, but it is easily treated.

The good news

PCO is nothing to worry about; it can be rectified during a low-risk and painless five-minute outpatient procedure called YAG laser capsulotomy. A laser is applied onto the capsule supporting your artificial lens, creating an opening in the tissue that has thickened and become cloudy.

Most patients experience clearer vision immediately after the procedure, although some may take a few days to experience the full effects. Your eyesight should return to the level it was following your initial cataract surgery.

Don’t hesitate

Please rest assured that the risk of serious complications developing after cataract surgery is very low; most patients experience little to no side effects and life returns to normal very quickly.

However, please contact us if you notice the return of cataract symptoms. It’s important to get a consultation and treatment as soon as possible so that we can treat you quickly and get you back on track.

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Patient Testimonials

I am a very experienced cataract surgeon achieving excellent patient satisfaction

Sam is a first class professional in his field - totally honest and trustworthy.

Friendly, thorough, professional while being very clear in explaining his findings and in giving advice. I have been delighted with the outcome of my visit, and would have no hesitation in recommending Mr Evans to other prospective patients.

Excellent advice, attention, information, given with kindness and consideration.

Consultation very clear and helpful. Mr Evans was most approachable, friendly and informative. I felt he listened to my concerns and worries and took time and care to help me make decisions about the next step.

Everything went ok and my sight is now as good as it has ever been.

Even though the lenses I had before were good, these were a step up on that... quite remarkable.

Thank you so much for your care and kindness. You were brilliant. It was an amazing procedure and it means so much to me to have my sight back at last.

Just a quick note to say a huge thank you for everything you did. Your manner is second to none and I can’t thank you enough for putting me at ease during the procedure. My vision now is so much better—my son says I can see too much now!

I am extremely grateful to you for your kindness last Friday when you operated on my cataract. My nervousness proved to be so unnecessary as it was painless and very swift. My grateful thanks for all you did.

To Mr. Sam Evans, brilliant eye surgeon. I just wanted to say a HUGE THANK YOU to you and your wonderful team for my life-changing eye operations. For many years I have struggled with poor vision and thanks to you my quality of life will be transformed.