YAG CAPSULOTOMY

Can future procedures maybe necessary to enhance vision after cataract surgery?

A common procedure that occurs after cataract surgery in about 30 percent of patients, is YAG CAPSULOTOMY  for a posterior capsule opacification.     The younger the patients at the time of surgery, the higher the incidences of this occurrence, approaching 100 % of all infants and children with congenital cataracts.   This should not be thought of as a complication that is caused by poor surgery, but rather a natural response to the eye to fix  itself after surgery by laying down scar tissue.    As the scar tissue, lens protein or cells grows on the back surface of the  IOL  on the posterior capsule,   the posterior capsule may become cloudy and may start to blur the patients vision. This condition is called an after-cataract or posterior capsule opacification.    An after-cataract can develop in a few months or  decades after cataract surgery depending on the patients age and healing response of the patient.

An after-cataract is  treated with a laser.   Your doctor uses a YAG Laser to make a tiny opening in  the capsular membrane behind the lens to let light pass through. This  outpatient procedure is called a YAG laser capsulotomy.   It is  painless and rarely results in increased eye pressure or other eye  problems. As a precaution, your doctor may give you eyedrops to lower  your eye pressure before or after the procedure.

When will my vision be normal again? 

You can return quickly  to many everyday activities, but your vision may be blurry. The healing  eye needs time to adjust so that it can focus properly with the other  eye, especially if the other eye has a cataract. Ask your doctor when  you can resume driving.