Adam Koenigsberg, MD (retired)

The film behind the implant is referred to as posterior capsular haze. The generally safest time to have it layered (Yag) is after 90 days, once the implant (IOL or intraocular lens) has had a chance to scar into place. Doing the laser before this time could cause dislocation of the IOL or vitreous to wrap around from the back of the eye in front of the implant.

We would really need a lot more information to answer the question fully however the "scar' may simply be the area where the incision was possibly made into clear cornea. Although true it does not resolve, most people are not bothered by it. One of the interesting things about the corneal incision is that is can cause significant dry eye especially for the first year because corneal nerves are cut during the creation of the incision. Therefore I let my patients know that they may experience dry eye and need to use artificial tears for up to one year after surgery from dry eye experienced after cataract surgery.

The ingredient in Latisse that makes lashes grow is the same as one of the glaucoma medications, the class of which is known as "prostaglandin analogues." I know of no link between use of prostaglandin analogues and macular degeneration. If such a link existed, we would be required to warn many of our glaucoma patients of said risk.

Hello and thanks for your great question. Modern cataract surgery is quick and efficient and depending on the circumstances can be performed safely usually between 20 and 30 minutes which would include making incisions, removing the entire cataract with ultrasound waves, and gentle vacuum, and delicate placement of an implant which is clear and allows vision to be stored efficiently in most cases. The cataract will never return however sometimes the public has wondered about this from prior generations where they may have been told they "come back" to simplify a secondary process. This is that in up 50% of cases, the delicate envelope or membrane which holds the implant in place may become clouded. This "film" can be removed permanently with a minor laser surgical procedure called YAG laser capsulotomy. Surgical healing is most often quick and one can expect good visual results between a few days to a few weeks depending on many factors such as age and health of the patient, swelling, length of surgery, complexity of the cataract, and many other factors including pre-existing diseases. Regardless, cataract surgery performed in the US is considered a very safe and effective method for restoration of vision in many patients where the cataract is deemed the reason for visual blur in the first place. One must be absolutely certain before cataract surgery that the cataract is indeed the reason for the visual issues, as other problems can cause visual blur. In addition, the patient must be in good health to undergo cataract surgery, which is considered an elective procedure.