The lens is a structure inside the front part of the eye that focuses light onto the retina. As we grow older the lens becomes more cloudy and causes our vision to become blurry. This is known as a cataract. As the cataract worsens overtime it can cause the vision to decline causing difficulty in performing everyday activities.

Cataract removal is a procedure that is typically performed by Ophthalmologists (eye specialists). During the procedure the cataract is removed and artificial lens is implanted. Typically the lens sits in a delicate structure known as the capsular bag. The capsular bag holds the cataract while the specialist removes the cataract with ultrasound and suctioning.

In some situations the capsular bag may have a defect during the procedure. If the capsular bag breaks, bits of cataract material can fall into the back of the eye, into the vitreous gel. At this point it cannot be removed during the routine cataract procedure and the Ophthalmologist may refer you to the Retina specialist to perform another procedure to remove the fragments from the back segment of the eye. This procedure is called vitrectomy.