Does a Cataract Grow Back?

There is a common misconception that cataracts can grow back after they are removed. I am asked this question every week in the office. I'm here to tell you that they don't grow back. The cataract forms within the natural lens of the eye. During cataract surgery the entire cataract and lens are removed. An implant lens, usually made of acrylic, is placed in the area where the cataract was removed. This lens will stay in the eye for the rest of your life. It can also focus the light so you would not need glasses after surgery.

So why do so many people think that the cataract grows back? The reason is, most patients will later need a laser procedure to clear haze that can form behind the implant. They assume that this is the cataract reforming. It is really the membrane which supports the lens becoming cloudy or hazy over time. It is sometimes called a secondary cataract, which only adds to the confusion. This one minute laser procedure is painless and will clear the vision. The laser only needs to be done once following surgery