Anyone out there ever had the YAG laser used on their eyes after a crystalens implant surgery?… by lhill5
Just wondering because I will be getting it done soon, and I just would like to know what to expect.
Best Answer:
I perform Yag laser surgeries on pretty much a daily basis. First, understand that Yag laser surgery to clear opacification of the posterior capsule following cataract surgery is totally painless.
Here is how we do it in my office. The patient comes in for a diagnostic exam to be sure that they do indeed need Yag laser surgery. The patient is then scheduled to return for the actual surgery. Upon the surgery visit the patient is given an informed consent explanation of the benefits and risks of the procedure and after any questions are answered the patient begins the pre operative preparation.
This involves dilation of the operative eye and instillation of a drop called iopidine that minimizes the risk of post operative spikes in the pressure of the eye. Once the eye has had time to absorb the dilating drops and the iopidine, the patient is escorted to the laser room. The laser looks very much like the microscope the doctor uses to inspect the eye under magnification but there is an additional laser head attached to the instrument.
Just before performing the laser I instill a drop of topical anesthetic to numb the surface of the eye so that there is no sensation when I place the capsulotomy lens on the front of the eye. Some doctors don't use a capsulotomy lens but I do. It gives me a much better view of what I am doing and allows me to be much more precise in applying the laser pulses exactly where I need them.
When the laser is fired you may see some flashes of light and you may hear some popping type sounds inside your head. If you do hear or see these things that is very normal. Don't let that worry you.
Average operative time, depending upon the density of the cloudiness, is usually only 5 to 10 minutes. After I have completely cleared the cloudiness I remove the capsulotomy lens from the front of the eye. If the doctor uses a capsulotomy lens you will notice your vision will be quite blurry due to the thick fluid that is placed in the lens before it is inserted. This thick fluid (called goniosol) will disturb your tears for some time until your normal tears wash the goniosol out. Also, the dilation of the eye will cause some blurring until the dilation wears off.
After the procedure is complete, I again instill another drop of iopidine to further minimize the risk of post op pressure spikes. Five minutes after the end of the procedure I check to make sure the pressure in the eye is normal. If so, the patient is sent home with a prescription of a steroid drop called Pred Acetate 1% to be instilled four times a day for 5 days. This drop minimizes the risk of the patient developing cystoid macular edema following the surgery. Not all docs use this post op med but I have been using it now for the last several years and since using it I have had no cases of post op cystoid macular edema.
When the pupil returns to its normal shape you will see just about as clearly as you are going to see following the surgery. Of course, the length of dilation can vary greatly from patient to patient.
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