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Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

Posterior capsular opacity (PCO) following cataract surgery

Posterior capsular opacity (PCO) following cataract surgery

Category(ies): Cataract, Lens
Contributor: Andrew Doan, MD, PhD

Slit lamp showing PCIOL with a membrane forming behind lens
1) Slit lamp showing PCIOL with a membrane forming behind lens.
Slit lamp showing PCIOL with a membrane forming behind lens
2) retroillumination clearly outlines the PCO. Vision dropped below 20/40 from 20/20 after cataract surgery. A surgical laser was used to cut the membrane and the patient was 20/20 again.

Posterior capsular opacity (PCO) following cataract surgery

Posterior capsular opacity (PCO) following cataract surgery

Category(ies): Cataract, Lens
Contributor: Peter H. Sanchez, MD, Cheryl L. Wang, MD, and Thomas A. Oetting, MD
Photographer: Allie Copple

71 y/o female with pseudophakia OU, dry eye syndrome OU, and history of posterior capsular opacification OD s/p Neodymium: yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser capsulotomy. She presents for her annual exam with complaints of hazy vision OS. Exam notable for visual acuity 20/20 OD and 20/30 OS with pinhole improvement to 20/20 OS. Slit lamp exam was notable for PCO OS superiorly around the lens-haptic junction extending inferiorly towards the visual axis.

Slit lamp photo of left eye demonstrating superior posterior capsular opacification of the intraocular lens implant with broad-beam illumination.
Slit lamp photo of left eye demonstrating superior posterior capsular opacification of the intraocular lens implant with broad-beam illumination.
Slit lamp photo of left eye intraocular lens implant demonstrating retroillumination of superior posterior capsular opacification (PCO). Note the PCO originates along the lens-haptic junction.
Slit lamp photo of left eye intraocular lens implant demonstrating retroillumination of superior posterior capsular opacification (PCO). Note the PCO originates along the lens-haptic junction.