How serious is it to have a fold in my intraocular lens?
FEB 20, 2024
Question:
I had cataract surgery 10 weeks ago and now have been told that my IOL implant has a fold in it. How serious is it? It’s been suggested that laser treatment will help.
Answer:
Based on your description I think it is likely that you have a wrinkle or fold in the posterior capsule and that there is nothing wrong with the intraocular lens (IOL).
When the cataract is removed, in most cases, the capsular bag (which is your own tissue that held the cataract in place) is left intact and the IOL is placed into the capsular bag. It is common for the back (posterior) part of this capsule to develop a lack of clarity or folds that can degrade the vision. This is fixed by an outpatient laser procedure called a YAG capsulotomy or posterior capsulotomy. Please ask your ophthalmologist for clarification.
This question was originally answered on Sept. 21, 2015.