Have Not Heard of This After Cataract Surgery - Help Please
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I had cataract surgery done on both eyes recently. Left eye was done 5 weeks ago and right eye was done 4 weeks ago. I had Tecnis 1 in both eyes, LE -0.1 and RE -0.55. I was very happy with the outcome. I only need reading glasses if I am reading a book or magazine. I can see my computer fine and my cell phone I have the font set as large as it will go and can use it without a problem, although reading glasses definitely makes it easier.
About a week and half ago I started noticing a change in my vision in my right eye. I had been able to see crystal clear from 2 feet out to as far as the eye could see. Starting a week and half ago I could only see things clearly from 2 to 3 feet and then things started to get blurry. I also developed a smear over my eye starting at the top outside edge and going down to about the 10:00 position. Went back to the clinic that did my eye surgery and saw the optometrist (once the surgeon has done your surgery, you never get to see them again lol). The optometrist checked my eye (she also dilated my eye and checked the retina) and said I had “folds” in the membrane behind my eye due to scar tissue (when I thought about this later it didn't make sense because shouldn't the scar tissue be in the front of the eye). I had more of them in my right eye, but also had one in my left eye. I do not notice any change in my left eye vision.
She explained to me that once my eye was completely healed the surgeon would go in with the laser and “polish” these folds to remove them. She said he would do both eyes on the same day. When the front desk made me the appointment to get this done the slip they handed me said YAG. Well to the best of my knowledge a YAG does not “polish”, it removes part of the posterior capsule. I have done a bit of research and it seems these “folds” can be caused by a number of things.
Not sure why this optometrist would give me incorrect information. A person cannot make an informed decision about their situation with incorrect information. I am very upset about this because it prevented me from asking follow up questions. Polishing and removing are 2 totally different things with 2 totally different outcomes.
I have decided I am for sure not getting a YAG done on my left eye because I don’t have any vision issues right now. My questions are:
- Has anyone heard of these “folds”?
- I have read all the negative posts on this forum, so does anyone have any positive outcomes from YAG?
- What is the best YAG method, cruciate (X) or the circular?
I was so happy with my vision outcome and just 2 days away from finishing my eye drops and ready to cross the cataract finish line. This has put me into a tail spin and after reading all the negative posts am beyond terrified of making a bad situation worse. Any help/information you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
0 likes, 64 replies
RonAKA karin08666
Edited
Here is another article to read on PCO and YAG, if you have not seen it already. It is a bit of a "How to do it Guide" guide for YAG. It seems than in some states optometrists instead of ophthalmologists are allowed to do YAG, and this article is written by two optometrists as guidance to other optometrists who may be considering to offer YAG service. That is my biggest take away from this article. Who is going to do the YAG? An optometrist or a ophthalmologist? Since I am not in the US I was thinking this would not be a concern for me, until I realized that one of the authors is an optometrist in my province (Alberta). That sent me off checking as to who the staff are at the clinic I have an appointment with to give me a second opinion on my PCO and need for a YAG procedure. I see that of the listed doctors 4 are ophthalmologists, and one is an optometrist. I'm assuming the optometrist does the eye refractions, but not the laser surgery. But, it will be a question I will ask, along with whether or not they use a capsulotomy laser lens. In any case it seems to be a good article that explains the process and to some degree the types of PCO that may be encountered.
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Review of Optometry Published December 15, 2022 Take Charge of Cataract Care with Laser Capsulotomy
karin08666 RonAKA
Edited
Interesting article. A person has to be very careful and know exactly who is working on their eyes and the training they have. I have already confirmed that it would be my surgeon doing it. I think it was on another forum I read of a technician doing the YAG, which is really frightening. I watched a Youtube presentation by Karl Brasse on the YAG and how he performs it. He also shows some not great outcomes by other doctors. Makes you realize you really need to know who is doing your YAG.
YAG Posterior Capsulotomy: The final hurdle to a Premium Visual Outcome Dr Karl Brasse
RonAKA karin08666
Posted
Yes, I have read that article, but have not watched the video yet. It seems there are some good things to do and to avoid. The clinic I am scheduled for specializes in Laser surgery, but also does cataract surgery. It is called Eye Q Premium Laser. The lead surgeon is Dr. Joseph Leong-Sit. I've had a couple of appointments with him and I am more impressed with him than the surgeon that did my cataract surgery. They are both associate professors at the U of A. I just have to confirm that he will actually do the YAG....
Spring1951 karin08666
Posted
I just read the report on my RE the day after surgery and it said cornea: trace stromal folds. The LE did not indicate this.
Is that what you have or are yours more pronounced? How does yours read on the report. My doctor had indicted that the day after surgery the RE was blurry unlike the LE the day after. I am beginning to wonder about this as I am not always getting clear vision in the RE. Let me know how your stromal folds report reads? Thanks Much!