Yag Capsulotomy | Restoring Your Vision Following Cataract Surgery
Yag Capsulotomy, or Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Capsulotomy, is a painless laser procedure designed to improve the vision of patients who have had cataract surgery. “]
A Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (YAG) capsulotomy is a laser treatment procedure conducted by ophthalmologists on patients who have had cataract surgery. The lens’ natural outer membrane is left in place in order to support the artificial lens implant, and may grow cloudy or wrinkled over time. This is the natural result of scarring, which impacts three out of four cataract patients, but is a completely normal aspect of the healing process.
If your vision is affected, your ophthalmologist can conduct this painless laser procedure, which creates a hole in the center of the clouded membrane. That will then allow light to pass through and restore accustomed clarity to your vision. The common misconception that cataract surgery is a laser procedure stems from the fact that three out of four patients who undergo the surgery eventually require a YAG laser capsulotomy. The process of clouding may take years, but the YAG capsulotomy is an outpatient clinic procedure we offer in our Las Vegas offices. Few side effects are associated with it.
Quick Recovery Time With A YAG capsulotomy
If your ophthalmologist recommends that you undergo this treatment, you will be back to your normal routine in almost no time. The recuperation period is negligible, and side effects include noticing a brightness of colors that can be startling, but is associated with the return of normal vision. One serious danger associated with this particular treatment is retinal detachment. While it is extremely rare, any patient who experiences it will notice bright flashes of light or the appearance of a black curtain that obscures peripheral vision. If you experience either of these symptoms you should contact your eye doctor immediately. That being said, the risks associated with this procedure are approximately 1/100th of those associated with the original cataract surgery, and patients should feel confident of success.
