In some cases, the part of the lens covering that supports the IOL (called the capsule) can become cloudy several months or years after the first cataract was removed. This is called an “after cataract” or “secondary cataract.” If this occurs and blurs your vision, your Eye M.D. will make an opening in the center of the cloudy capsule with a laser to allow light to pass through the lens properly again. This procedure, called a posterior capsulotomy, takes about five minutes in the doctor’s office and requires no recovery period.
If you are having cataract surgery, be sure to tell your doctor if you are currently or have ever used alpha-blocker medications such as Flomax®, Uroxatral® or Cadura®. These medications affect the iris or pupil and can lead to complications during cataract surgery. You can still have a successful surgery if your surgeon knows that you have taken these drugs and appropriately adapts his or her surgical technique. You should also tell your Eye M.D. about any other sedative medications you are taking.
Also, if you plan to have cataract surgery and you have had LASIK or other laser refractive surgery, provide your Eye M.D. with the vision correction prescription you had before LASIK, if possible. This information will help your Eye M.D. calculate the correct IOL prescription for you.
Most people who wear bifocals or reading glasses for near vision may still need to wear glasses after cataract surgery for reading, and, in some cases, even for distance. If you choose to have a multifocal or accommodative IOL, your dependence on glasses may be minimized or, in some cases, eliminated completely.
Last reviewed and updated in March 2010,
by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
What are cataracts?
