One of the most common problems after cataract surgery is a condition called posterior capsule opacification (PCO). This is caused by proteins within the eye clumping together on the part of the lens capsule that remains in the eye for the intraocular lens (IOL) to be secured to.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, this occurs in anything from 20% to 50% of patients within 2-5 years of cataract surgery. But, this isn’t something that you should worry about, because there’s a one-off, simple treatment to put this right, known as YAG laser capsulotomy.
PCO has many of the same symptoms as a cataract, which is why it’s often referred to as a secondary cataract. These include:
However, secondary cataract treatment by YAG laser isn’t anything like the procedure you had to remove your cataracts—far from it. Instead, you’ll be invited back to the eye doctor’s office for a very brief application of a laser to the area. This effectively opens up the clouded area of the lens capsule to allow light to flow correctly once again.
This takes mere minutes, is painless, and only requires a single session. However, with the pre- and post-procedure elements, you’ll realistically be at the clinic for anything from 30 minutes to a couple of hours.
So… What is a YAG laser? Well, it stands for yttrium aluminum garnet, which is the crystal used to generate the laser beam. Before this is applied, your eye doctor will put some eye drops in the eye to both numb it and dilate the pupil. After these have taken effect, you’ll rest your chin on a special piece of apparatus and have a lens placed over the eye. The ophthalmologist then applies the laser in short bursts, which you’ll hear as clicking. You may or may not notice a light flashing, but you won’t feel a thing. It takes seconds to perform.
Once done, you’ll be free to go home, although you will need someone else to drive as your pupil will be dilated. This usually means blurry vision until it wears off, and—because the proteins on the lens capsule have been broken up—you may get some new floaters for a while. These usually get absorbed into the eye jelly over time. But if they end up being problematic, these can also be easily treated at a later date.
Happily, there’s no post-op downtime. You can get straight back to normal life. However, it’s normal to experience some grittiness, watering, itching, or even mild soreness for a few days, so give yourself a little TLC and a rest from strenuous activities for a few days.
Q: When does PCO typically occur?
A: It can be as soon as 3 months after surgery, but generally happens between the 2–5-year post-operative stage.
Q: Who is at higher risk of developing PCO?
A: It can happen to anyone, but there’s a higher prevalence in those with diabetes or glaucoma, as well as those who have cataract surgery at a younger age.
Q: How quickly will I see results after a YAG laser treatment?
A: Usually straight away or within a few hours. You may have cloudy or distorted vision for a few hours afterward, but this is due to the dilating eye drops used before the procedure.
Q: What are the risks of YAG laser?
A: The risks are minimal, and serious complications are extremely rare. The greatest potential issue is the appearance of floaters after the operation, and there’s a very tiny possibility that the treatment can raise the pressure within the eye. This is more usually seen in those with glaucoma. Risk is mitigated by eye pressure measurements before and after the procedure, and any raise in pressure is treated with eye drops.
You’ll naturally have other questions for your eye surgeon and, of course, you’ll want to consult a professional who’s experienced in performing YAG laser capsulotomy.
There’s no better place to begin your search than at https://www.bestcataractsurgeonreviews.com/, where it’s easy to search by location and area of expertise.
