Cloudiness after cataract operation

My father has had a cataract operation 2 months ago and still has cloudy vision.  Why is this and how can it be corrected.  The Doctor said the operation went well and there is no reason for his cloudiness.  Thank you for your help

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Hello Dads Helper.  Any cataract surgeon knows about the capsule behind the implant turning cloudy. If that is the problem the surgeon should have recognized it easily. The figure now is closer to 30% than 50% and the cloudiness can develop anytime from immediately after the surgery to many years later to (in 70%) never.

The most common reason by far for subnormal vision after cataract surgery is disease elsewhere in the eye. The most common place is the retina-specifically the part of the eye you read with called the macula. The most common macular disease is age related macular degeneration. Other causes are retina damage from diabetes, hypertension, macular holes, macular swelling (edema), macular membranes.

Sometimes the patient may mean that the vision is "cloudy" when not wearing glasses. The vision should be judged by wearing the best possible glasses for distance and near. This is nothing personal against your father, but some older patients have damage to their brain in the visual areas from stroke, age, degenerative diseases (Alzheimer's being unfortunately the most common) that prevents them from properly interpreting the vision messages from the eye.

You might ask for a clarification from the original surgeon. Ask for the best corrected before and after surgery. If you feel that your questions are not being addressed or you are not comfortable with the answers then by all means schedule a second opinion with another experienced eye surgeon.

JCH III MD Eye Physician & Surgeon

[JodieJ]

Consult another experienced surgeon.  Obviously, there is a reason.

[ArleneB]

I just had catatract surgery last week.  I was told by the doctor that 50% of patients develop scar tissue behind the lens within two to three months.  This causes cloudiness.  There is a simple procedure that is performed in the office that gets rid of the scar tissue permanently.  I am surprised your doctor doesn't know this.