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    Posterior Capsular Opacity

    Uploaded by

    Randy Ferdian
    pco

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    Posterior Capsular Opacity

    Uploaded by

    Randy Ferdian
    195 views3 pages
    pco

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    © © All Rights Reserved

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    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

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    pco

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    195 views3 pages

    Posterior Capsular Opacity

    Uploaded by

    Randy Ferdian
    pco

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 3

    Posterior Capsular Opacity

    This material will help you understand posterior capsular opacity


    (PCO), a common issue that can occur after cataract surgery, and
    how it may be treated. PCO is also sometimes called secondarycataract.

    What is posterior capsular opacity?


    Posterior capsular opacity (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.

    What causes posterior capsular opacity?


    During cataract surgery, your eye
    doctor removes the eyes natural
    lens that has become cloudy. The
    lens is the clear structure behind the
    iris (the colored part of the eye). It
    allows you to see images clearly (see
    picture on right). The cloudy lens is
    replaced with a plastic one, called an
    intraocular lens (IOL).

    Image used with permission. Copyright VHI 1-800356-0709

    Kellogg Eye Center

    Posterior Capsular Opacification


    1

    Part of the tissue covering the lens (the capsule) is left to help hold
    the IOL in place. 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 capsular opacity?


    Similar to an actual cataract, PCO cause vision loss over time. When
    cloudy vision begins to affect your daily activities, you may want to
    have surgery to correct it. To regain vision, you will need to have a
    procedure called YAG laser capsulotomy. This is usually a short
    and painless outpatient procedure. Your eye doctor uses a laser to
    make a small opening in the clouded capsule to allow light to come
    through again. This procedure will only need to be performed once,
    as PCO cannot recur.
    You and your doctor will discuss if and when you should treat your
    posterior capsular opacity.

    For more information, scan these codes with your


    smartphone or visit the websites listed.

    Kellogg Eye Center

    Posterior Capsular Opacification


    2

    http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/cataractcomplications.htm

    http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/cataracts/ndyag-laserposterior-capsulotomy-for-cataracts

    Disclaimer: This document contains information and/or instructional materials developed by the
    University of Michigan Health System (UMHS) for the typical patient with your condition. It may include
    links to online content that was not created by UMHS and for which UMHS does not assume
    responsibility. It does not replace medical advice from your health care provider because your
    experience may differ from that of the typical patient. Talk to your health care provider if you have any
    questions about this document, your condition or your treatment plan.
    Author: Kathleen Koviak, MPH Candidate
    Reviewers: Christopher Hood, MD, Paula Anne Newman-Casey, MD, and Alan Sugar, MD
    Unless otherwise noted, Patient Education by University of Michigan Health System is licensed under a
    Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
    Last Revised 03/2015

    Kellogg Eye Center

    Posterior Capsular Opacification


    3

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