Your Ultimate Guide On Yag Laser Capsulotomy And The Possible Side-effect Of This Eye Procedure

By Author: Sharmina Khan Eye Clinic
Total Articles: 13
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With cataract surgery, your eye surgeon or ophthalmologist will perform a surgical procedure to replace your eye's natural (clouded) lens with a new artificial intraocular lens (IOL). The natural lens capsule of the eye holds the IOL in place, but after a few months or years, this capsule may become clouded or wrinkled once more, which can impair vision.

If your vision becomes cloudy again after cataract surgery, you may need a procedure known as posterior capsulotomy, sometimes also referred to as YAG laser capsulotomy, which can help you see once more.

Specialised eye surgeons use this procedure to clean up any cloudiness forming on the capsule of the natural lens of the eye by performing YAG laser capsulotomy, which is essentially a quick and pain-free procedure. To numb the eye and widen the pupil during the procedure, anesthetic eye drops are typically first applied. The YAG laser is then directed at the back of the lens capsule, where it creates a tiny hole that allows light to pass through.

YAG laser capsulotomy is done in your ophthalmologist's office, or an outpatient surgery clinic such as the ...
... Moorfields Hospital in London, and it only takes a few minutes. YAG is the scientific name for ‘Neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet’, which is the crystal utilised to produce the low-energy beam.

After the treatment, once your vision is clear, you can go about your regular business as usual, but you may need a ride home from someone, as driving immediately after the procedure, is usually not recommended. If there are any specific activities or things you should avoid shortly after surgery (like smoking, for example), your eye doctor or ophthalmologist will also let you know.

After a YAG laser capsulotomy, you might need to use prescribed eye drops for a few days, but if you do not have any other eye issues that compromise your vision, your eyesight should return to normal in about 24 hours.

Is YAG Laser Capsulotomy Completely Risk-Free?

YAG laser capsulotomy may carry some risks and problems, just like any other surgical procedure, so the short answer is no. One example hereof is a detached retina (when the retinal tissue lifts off the back of your eye) or you might see a moving grey shadow or curtain that appears to be in your field of vision. Furthermore, you can also experience light flashes in your eye or see several floaters.

Other problems that could occur after YAG laser capsulotomy is that the IOL might slip through the posterior capsule opening, your eye pressure could rise, and you might among others, experience eye swelling after YAG laser capsulotomy. If any of the above symptoms occur and causes you great concern, you should call your eye doctor or ophthalmologist without delay. In most cases, the doctor will prescribe eye drops to take care of the problem.

It should be mentioned also that YAG laser surgery is typically a straightforward procedure with few risks, but it is very important that the procedure is only carried out by a highly skilled and experienced eye surgeon, as it could result in permanent blindness if something goes seriously wrong.

With a success rate of over 95%, YAG laser capsulotomy is likewise regarded as a highly effective PCO procedure. You should notice an improvement in your vision after one to two days. Very rarely your PCO may come back, or the capsule opening could narrow, so you should be informed of these possibilities, and you need to understand that your eye surgeon may need to enlarge the YAG capsulotomy.

Finally, as mentioned earlier, you may experience some temporary side effects after YAG laser capsulotomy, but in the event of any serious complications, you should immediately seek medical assistance.

About Us

Sharmina Khan is a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at London's world-famous Moorfields Private Eye Hospital. She joined the world-renowned Moorfields Eye Hospital in 2002 to specialise in Ophthalmology after graduating from University College London in 1998. She went on to finish advanced training in external eye disease, cataract surgery, and corneal surgery and has worked as a consultant in both the commercial and NHS sectors for nearly 10 years. Ms. Khan offers a wide range of eye procedures and treatments and has carried out over 5000 cataract/lens operations in the last five years. She runs her premium eye clinic at Moorfields Private Eye Hospital and 46 Wimpole Street, as well as leading clinical audits in cataract surgery results for the NHS. Her ultimate mission is to help improve her patient's quality of life by providing them with a clear vision and sharpened focus. Visit her website at https://www.sharminakhan.co.uk/ for more information.