Often especially if there is a posterior capsular cataract or a posterior polar cataract or an inflammatory cataract the posterior capsule is found to be cloudy at the time of surgery and cannot be polished clean. Then the usual procedure is finish the operation, use anti-inflammatory drops and let the eye heal as yours was. Then several months later do the Yag. So its likely that the capsule was already cloudy and did not turn cloudy immediately after surgery.
JCH MD
The same exact thing happened to my right eye after cataract surgery, and my Ophthalmologist also said that he wanted to wait for three months so that my eye would heal before using the YAG laser...the vision in my left eye is almost 20/15 and, I had the same exact surgery with exactly the same implant. I find it strange that I had such different outcomes in both eyes...good luck, and I'm sure that everything will be fine.
I doubt Acular and Pred Forte will help with the PCO.
Dr. O.
Dr. O.,
Thanks for the comment.
The YAG laser must have had a tremendous impact on the outcomes of cataract suirgery.
Don W.
Thank you, Dr. O. I hope my doctor has a good reason for the 12 week rule, and the reimbursement rate is not the only reason.
Do you think I should do Acular and Pred Forte 4 times a day for the next 2 months since it most likely won't do any good? What would you recommend as far as the eye drops are concerned?
Thank you for your help!
Right then. No way was it going to get better on its own, after all.
The laser is focused at the PC which is far from the retina. A yag can be done sooner than 12 weeks. The post operative period for a cataract surgery and a yag done during that period is reimbursed at a lower rate.
Dr. O.
Did you have the YAG right away? Or did you wait a while?
Dr. O or ...
Peripheral question.
What prevents the YAG laser from damaging the retina during this PCOelimination process?
Don W.
As I recall, it was about 6 weeks.
Thank you Dr. Oyakaqa for your quick response.
My surgeon said he does not do YAG within 12 weeks of surgery. Is that because the risk is higher if YAG is done too soon after the surgery?
Is 3+ fibrosis considered very bad? Should I be concerned that PCO developed so early and so fast in the left eye? Can the fibrosis get worse?
Thank you for your help!
Thank you, Achillea. That's very encouraging! How long after the surgery did you develop PCO?
1) No. 2) Doubt the drops will do much 3) Yes, but why wait so long?
Dr. O.
I also developed PCO in one eye fairly quickly after cataract surgery and IOL implantation (but well after I had completed the steroid drops). My surgeon simply recommended the laser procedure, which instantly and painlessly restored the sharpness of my vision. That was almost three years ago, and the problem has not recurred.
Your situation appears to be a little different, but I can affirm that the laser procedure can be wonderfully successful for PCO.