YAG Laser Capsulotomy in San Antonio, TX

A few months to a few years after a cataract removal surgery, some patients may develop clouded vision again and believe the cataracts are back. However, the artificial lenses used in cataract surgery cannot form cataracts. What these patients are really experiencing is called posterior capsule opacification (PCO), which is very treatable.

The posterior capsule is the eye's natural structure that holds and supports the lens. In some patients, this capsule – not the lens – can become clouded after cataract surgery. Since it is not the lens but only its capsule that is clouded, it can be taken care of with a noninvasive procedure called a YAG laser capsulotomy.  

We are proud to perform YAG laser capsulotomies for our San Antonio, TX area patients. Reach out to us at Stone Oak Ophthalmology Center today if you have developed any new clouded vision after cataract surgery. 

The best candidates for a YAG laser capsulotomy are patients who have had cataract removal surgery with no other complications besides the newly blurred vision. At your consultation, we will perform a comprehensive eye exam to diagnose the PCO and ensure that you are in overall good health. Certain factors that could impact whether you are a candidate for a laser capsulotomy include:

• High internal eye pressure
• Macular edema
• Any previous retinal detachment or tears
• Any ongoing eye infections

We perform YAG laser capsulotomies as outpatient procedures. They generally only last from 10 – 15 minutes, are virtually painless, and have little to zero downtime afterward.

Before the procedure, your eyes will be completely numbed and dilated with special eye drops. Once the drops are working, the YAG laser will be focused on a very specific spot on the back of the posterior capsule where it will make a microscopic hole. This tiny hole allows light to pass through, drastically reducing or fully removing the clouded capsule's effect on your vision.

After having a laser capsulotomy, it's very important that you come back to Stone Oak Ophthalmology Center the next day for a follow-up appointment. We will likely ask you to come back again within the following few weeks. During these visits, we will monitor your healing progress, as well as your vision improvement. 

Most patients are able to get back to work and driving their vehicles within a day or two and have little to no pain or discomfort at all. However, even though you will feel fine and have clear vision, the actual healing process takes a few weeks. We'll prescribe some eye drops you will need to use during this time, and we might ask you to refrain from strenuous physical activity.  

If you have noticed a new blurring of your vision after having cataract surgery, it is probably due to posterior capsule opacification (PCO). PCO is incredibly easy to treat with a YAG laser capsulotomy, which can restore your unclouded vision within just a couple of days. Contact Stone Oak Ophthalmology Center in San Antonio, TX today to set up an evaluation for this safe and effective treatment.