Secondary cataract

secondary cataract sign .treatment .complication of laser operation

1. Secondary catatract By HARITH RIYADH

2. What is Secondary cataract ? Secondary cataract or after-cataract is an opacification of the posterior capsule of the lens that may appear after a few months or years of having undergone a cataract extraction.  This prevents the passage of light to the retina and leads to loss of vision. Up to 20% of patients who have undergone a cataract extraction may suffer from this disorder.

3. What causes secondary cataract? The   secondary cataract occurs when there is a proliferation of epithelial cells in the lens of the posterior capsule and the new capsule  that supports it. In any case, it is not a reappearance of the cataract that was operated previously. It is not possible to know if a patient will develop a secondary cataract  after the extraction of cataracts. But it is usually developed mainly in younger patients who have undergone a cataract surgery. If vision problems are noticed after this surgery, you should go to the ophthalmologist to perform an ophthalmological assessment.

4. What are the symptoms of secondary cataract? Secondary cataract  is associated with symptoms similar to primary cataract, such as: Lack of visual acuity  that hinders near and far vision and can affect one or both eyes. Blinding,  especially with frontal lights at night. Difficulty in the perception of colors. Blurry or opaque visin

5. What is the treatment? The treatment that is usually recommended after the appearance of a secondary cataract is to undergo a capsulotomy. The capsulotomy consists of making an incision in the posterior capsule with the help of the Nd:YAG laser .  The ophthalmologist will use eye drops to dilate the eye and, once the pupil is dilated, you should place the head on the laser. The ophthalmologist will place the laser on the back of the capsule to cut a small area and remove part of the cells to allow light to enter directly through the retina. In any case,  the ophthalmologist will assess the need to perform this intervention  based on the visual deterioration of the patient and his medical history, in order to avoid associated risks.

6. Risks The most common complication of Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy is short-term increased pressure inside the eye. You may need to use eyedrops to lower the eye pressure . IOP( Eye Drop Treatment) Other risks include: Detachment of the nerve layer at the back of the eye ( retinal detachment ). Swelling of the center of the retina (macular edema). Damage or displacement of the intraocular lens. Bleeding into the front of the eye. Swelling of the clear covering of the eye (corneal edema)

7. For more information visit https://icrcat.com/en/eye-conditions/secondary-cataract / https:// www.uwhealth.org/health/topic/surgicaldetail/nd-yag-laser-posterior-capsulotomy-after-cataract-surgery/hw36757.html https:// www.uwhealth.org/health/topic/surgicaldetail/nd-yag-laser-posterior-capsulotomy-after-cataract-surgery/hw36757.html https:// www.reviewofophthalmology.com/article/when-glaucoma-patients-have-cataract-surgery https:// www.nature.com/articles/6701319.pdf?origin=ppub