A 60-year-old man who underwent phacoemulsification surgeryand placement of foldable intraocular lens of left eye a year back has come with complaints of hazy vision now in that eye. There is no associate redness or pain or watering of eye. The most common cause is:
**Core Concept**
The question is testing the understanding of post-operative complications following cataract surgery, specifically the common causes of hazy vision in a patient who has undergone phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The most common cause of hazy vision in a patient who has undergone cataract surgery is posterior capsule opacification (PCO). PCO occurs due to the proliferation of residual lens epithelial cells on the posterior capsule, which can cause a decrease in visual acuity. This is a common complication of cataract surgery, occurring in approximately 20-40% of patients within the first year after surgery. The formation of PCO is thought to be due to the residual lens epithelial cells that are left behind during surgery, which can proliferate and form a membrane on the posterior capsule.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** This option is not provided, but it would be incorrect if it were related to other post-operative complications not related to PCO, such as infection, inflammation, or bleeding.
**Option B:** This option is not provided, but it would be incorrect if it were related to other post-operative complications not related to PCO, such as retinal detachment or optic nerve damage.
**Option C:** This option is not provided, but it would be incorrect if it were related to other post-operative complications not related to PCO, such as glaucoma or uveitis.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
A key point to remember is that PCO can be treated with a simple YAG laser capsulotomy, which creates a hole in the posterior capsule to allow light to pass through and improve vision.
**Correct Answer: C. Posterior capsule opacification (PCO)**