YAG after Symfony

Does YAG clear all the opacity on the lens?

If not then some of the symfony focal rings could remain blocked. 

YAG clears up posterior capsule opacity. Having YAG done is supposed to clear up your vision (so yes, it's supposed to clear all the opacity on the lens). It should work the same way whether it's a Symfony lens or any other lens.

Did you find this out by research or did your doctor tell you this in those exact words? (I'm referring to where you said "Make sure your surgeon uses the cruciate method which involves using the laser to create a cross in the opacity. The four remaining flaps then flop back into the vitreous out of your visual axis."

I would have to write that down and read it to my doctor word for word to have a conversation about it. I'm pretty sure he would roll his eyes at me and tell me to find another doctor if I said this to him after he told me I read too much stuff on the internet like he has told me a couple of other times when I tried to discuss things with him.

Just wondering if your doctor is inexperienced and that's why he didn't do it correctly the first time? I will possibly need YAG at some point so I want to research it ahead of time and maybe even have a second opinion before I agree to do it. Thanks for your posts.

Also, I'm pretty sure 99.9% of people who get YAG after cataract surgery research nothing and it turns out fine, but for the people who start researching, it adds another dimension of possibilities to the outcome.

Are you referring to the anterior capsule flaps? This is from something I found online:

"Posterior capsule opaci?cation results from lens epithelial cells proliferating onto the posterior capsule at the site of apposition of the anterior capsule flaps, explaining the inability of polishing the capsule at surgery to delay the onset or reduce the frequency of late capsular opaci?cation. Polishing the posterior capsule cannot remove the epithelial cells from the anterior capsule flaps. A peripheral ring in the capsular bag may reduce opaci?cation."

He actually did the cruciate method initially but then decided to cut out the remaining circle when he realised how far away I lived. He was concerned that on rare occasions the 'flaps' do not flop out of the visual axis. So with the best of intentions, and probably against his better judgement, he made the decision to ensure that there was definitely no capsule remaining. Unfortunately I was one of the rare occasions where the fragment refused to dissappear. When I returned for the second treatment he did say that the cruciate method was the preferred method purely for the reason of avoiding free floating capsule fragments. So that said, it is highly likely that your surgeon would use the cruciate method anyway. You could perhaps just casually ask how it is done without sounding like you're telling him his job?

OK thanks brizy - and I just found this article on it (I can't believe how complicated all this stuff really is) for anyone who wants to read it (do a search) "Comparison of Two Laser Capsulotomy Techniques: Cruciate Versus Circular".

Also when you say "flaps" is that the anterior capsule flaps? Just double checking....

Yes I think so.

And I really might get a second opinion before I allow him to do it anyway. I might go see a top retina specialist near me who also does cataract surgery just to get his opinion.

I really wouldn't worry about it too much. It's apparently a really simple procedure. I'm just one of the unfortunate 1% that had an issue. Don't let me put you off. The overall difference in vision quality before and after the yag is quite staggering, in my case just blighted by this annoying floating fragment.

OK thanks brizy - I just want to make sure I really need YAG if my doctor says I do since he seems to be "YAG" crazy haha.

I'm in Scotland, we don't have candor over here! 😊

LOL I went to Edinburgh for the Festival Fringe around 20 years ago, had a great time!