YAG Laser Capsulotomy treats Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) which often develops after cataract surgery in up to 20% of patients. It involves thickening of the lens capsule which holds your artificial lens in place. This capsule is located behind the lens and can become opaque due to cells that grow and form a membrane on it. As a consequence, there is less light transmitted to the back of the eye, leading to blurred vision and glare in bright lights.
Treatment: YAG Laser Capsulotomy
The laser is an outpatient procedure. Your vision will be checked, and a number of drops will be instilled to numb your eye, dilate your pupil, prevent inflammation and keep the eye pressure low. Then you will sit at a machine similar to the one you were examined with in the clinic. A contact lens will be placed on your eye with some gel on it to stabilize the eye and focus the laser. Then you will hear a few clicking sounds but you won’t be able to see the laser beam as it is invisible. The laser creates a hole in the opaque membrane behind the lens implant. The procedure itself is very quick and painless and lasts only for 5 to 10 minutes.
Recovery
Recovery after YAG Laser Capsulotomy is very quick; most people notice the difference within one or 2 days. It is normal to develop floaters after the laser, as the remnants of the membrane are floating in the eye but they usually settle.
Risks
The YAG laser procedure is considered very safe. Though there are some risks, serious side effects are very rare. Occasionally the eye pressure can rise or there might be some inflammation in the eye after the procedure, but both of these are easily treated with drops.
Exceedingly rarely, blurred vision due to retinal detachment or macular oedema might occur due to the laser, and they are both treatable.
Initial Consultations