Dear rvmeush,
The type of cataract that you had sounds like a posterior subcapsular. As the risks for you are higher if the back [posterior] capsule is damaged at the time of cataract surgery, the membrane can be opened later with a rapid, five minute YAG laser procedure. This is commonly performed after cataract surgery and can restore your vision.
Dr. Feldman
Sandy T. Feldman, M.D., M.S.
ClearView Eye and Laser Medical Center
San Diego, California
Boy, is this ever common. If you google 'posterior capsular opacification' or 'after-cataract,' you will see that it ultimately happens to at least 20%-30% of people who have had cataract removal. Apparently it's more common in younger patients.
It doesn't mean that anything went wrong with the original surgery. All that's going on is that cells that were left behind after the cloudy lens was removed have continued to grow on the back surface of the bag or capsule, making it cloudy. In the standard treatment for it, the doctor uses a laser to cut a little hole in the cloudy area so light can get through.
I had to have it done a few months after my implant was inserted, and it's an understatement to say it was no big deal. It takes maybe 5 minutes and is painless.