As the eyes heal and adapt, some patients may have blurred vision. Blurred vision usually disappears the day after cataract surgery, but for some people, it may take several days for vision to return to normal. Patients should prepare for other mild side effects as their vision clears after the procedure. The primary cause of posterior capsule opacification (PCO) is the migration and proliferation of residual lens epithelial cells (LEC) after cataract surgery.
If you have blurred vision after cataract surgery, or if your vision doesn't improve, it's important to talk to a doctor. Even if your blurred vision developed a few years later, you should consider talking to an optometrist or eye doctor. Cataract surgery can help you see clearly again by replacing the opaque lens in an artificial way. The correct sleeping position after cataract surgery can help reduce the risk of serious complications, such as blindness.
While most people experience improved vision after surgery, some people report persistent or newly developed blurred vision due to subsequent capsular opacification, a complication of cataract surgery that is easily treated. Artificial tears are over-the-counter eye drops that can help relieve dry eyes after cataract surgery. People who have had cataract surgery may experience blurred vision or eye sensitivity as they recover. Newer cataract surgery techniques may help reduce the chance of developing PCO, but they haven't completely prevented it from occurring.
Sometimes called a “secondary cataract”, PCO is a cloudy film that grows over the part of the eye where the artificial lens is located. Blurred vision may vary from patient to patient; some people may have blurred vision for one day, while others experience blurred vision for several days. Cystoid macular edema (CME) is a possible complication of cataract surgery in which the macula, the center of the retina, becomes inflamed. If you have questions about cataract surgery or if you are interested in this treatment, contact your eye doctor.
