PCO and YAG laser capsulotomy - 3-1/2 years after cataract surgery in one eye
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I had a full dilated eye exam today with my ophthalmologist after experiencing significant increased cloudiness over the past few months in my right eye reducing visual acuity in that eye to worse than 20/60. My right eye had cataract surgery with a Tecnis toric monofocal IOL 3.5 years ago, so I suspected PCO was the possible cause and my eye doctor confirmed that today using slit lamp and also viewing the eye with a handheld lens - he noted the membrane was very cloudy now.
So now I'm scheduled for the YAG laser capsulotomy procedure on May 10 and a followup exam 2 weeks after that. My eye doctor told me the procedure takes about 3min and that the hole made by the YAG in the capsule is typically about 3mm. He warned of a couple risks after the YAG operation, possible retinal detachment also possible IOL dislocation. Both he said were less than a 1/1000 chance however.
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soks Night-Hawk
Posted
good luck. if you are over 50 the risk of RD is greatly reduced. they also make the yag hole larger so that the flaps dont interfered with the vision. cruciate/cross method is preferred by most but there is also a circular method.
Sue.An2 Night-Hawk
Posted
Hi Night Hawk - Sorry you have PCO. I think it is something that will happen to most of us who have cataract surgery. Those no matter how miniscule ate always a worry. Hope all hoes well. As soks mentioned there are 2 methods. I looked into them s bit when I thought pco was an issue for my LE In some ways wish it was vs what it is (epiretinal membeane).
Nice to hear from you - hope all is well otherwise.
Take care.
Sue.An
Night-Hawk
Posted
At the medical complex I go to, they told me that they just got a new YAG laser machine too. I wonder if newer ones have improved over old ones?
RonAKA Night-Hawk
Posted
It seems that the risk of YAG is a subject of some debate. The surgeon who did my IOL, Dr. Chris Rudnisky, has done some research on the incidence. He claims the risk of retinal detachment is lower than the commonly quoted 1-2%, and is more like 0.5%. He advises patients it is a 1 in 200 risk. It seems some, like men in the 50-60 age range with high myopia are at higher risk. This research was done a few years ago, so perhaps techniques have improved even more since then. If you google this you can find an article about it.
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Review of Ophthalmology 10 MAY 2018 PCO: What’s Wrong With Doing a YAG?
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I believe that most believe needing YAG is inevitable at some point. Good luck with your procedure.