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Reston   (703) 485-2148 Leesburg   (703) 777-1244
Reston   (703) 485-2148 Leesburg   (703) 777-1244



What is a Posterior Capsulotomy?

Posterior CapsulotomyPreserving the health and vision of your eyes is vital to enjoying crystal-clear eyesight well into your golden years.  Sometimes undergoing cataract surgery is an important part of preserving your eye health, especially as you age.  Cataracts often materialize as cloudy vision, which is caused by a build-up of protein within the lenses that are responsible for passing light through the eye.  When this protein builds up within the eye, it can become extremely difficult to see clearly.  While cataracts are often considered a natural part of the aging process, they can also be caused by a bevy of other conditions, including diabetes, exposure to radiation, or eye injuries.

If you’ve suffered from cataracts, you’ll undergo cataract surgery to correct these vision problems.  However, in ten to 30 percent of all cataract surgeries, some patients will require what’s known as a posterior capsulotomy.  This is a surgical laser procedure that involves enhancing the results of cataract surgery for clear vision.

At NewView Eye Center in Reston, VA – also serving the greater Washington DC and Northern Virginia areas – Dr. Jacqueline Griffiths and her professional eye care team specialize in posterior capsulotomy.  This article will detail what’s involved in this laser surgery.

What’s Involved in a Posterior Capsulotomy?

During the initial cataract surgery, the surgeon will remove the front capsule that contains the lens (the front of the lens is known as the anterior).  The back of the lens capsule (or the posterior) is left intact throughout the surgery.  When the capsule remains clear, the patient will experience clear eyesight.  However, some patients will start to experience cloudy vision again, which means the posterior capsule has lost its clarity.  This means that the surgeon will need to make an opening in the posterior capsule with a laser (thus, a posterior capsulotomy).

The procedure itself is virtual painless and surprisingly quick (it takes about five minutes to perform).  Eye pressure will be measured about half an hour after the procedure, and the patient will be given antibiotic eye drops to take for the next three to five days.  Vision will return to normal within hours of the initial procedure.

Before undergoing the laser procedure, however, Dr. Jacqueline Griffiths will perform an examination to ensure that there are no other factors contributing to the blurry eyesight.  This is done to ensure that patients experience the best care possible.

Experience Superior Posterior Capsulotomy at NewView Eye Center

If you’re experiencing blurry vision after cataract surgery, contact Dr. Jacqueline Griffiths at NewView Eye Center in Reston, VA today. We’re just a short drive from anywhere in Northern Virginia and Washington DC, including Herndon, Dulles and Fairfax county.You can call us at 703-834-9777 or simply fill out the form in the top left corner.