Risks of posterior capsulotomy

[sulile]

I had cataract surgery on both eyes in November 2006.  
I have been experiencing cloudy vision in my *right * eye for a couple of months. Today my eye doctor said I have a clouding of the posterior lens and that a posterior capsulotomy would probably help.

My question is how high are the risks for retinal tears, retinal detachments  and dislocation of the IOL.  I feel I really need the procedure in order to continue working, but I have  extremely nearsighted eyes (Right eyeglass lens prescription was about -8.5 before I had the cataract surgery). And I had a retinal tear in my *left* eye about 6 weeks after the cataract surgery on that eye.

I've also have already had a PVD in my *right* eye.  Does that lessen the chance of having a retinal tear or detachment?
I really don't like having anything else done to my eyes. It's my opinion that the less done to a nearsighted eye, the better.

Thank you for any information.

Susan

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

If you need a posterior capsulotomy then you should go ahead and have it done provided that you have had a thorough retinal exam and everything is ok.  If you are very nervous about it due to previous RD then you could have a retinal specialist see you first to make sure you were cleared to have capsulotomy.  The actual yag laser capsulotomy procedure is one of the easiest, quickest procedures you could ever have.  Success rate is well over 99% with about 1/1000 complication rate.  If you put off the procedure too long it can become so cloudy at some point that you could be very, very cloudy and unable to see much of anything.  Talk it over with your ophthalmogisit and remember that your odds of success are extremely high.

Michael Kutryb, MD

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

You already have significant floater so chances are you may not notice much of a difference except vision should be better.  After the laser, the small pieces of capsule will shrink and drop to the bottom of eye to be reabsorbed slowly over the years.  Realize that there is not other way to clear a posterior capsule opacity.  If you leave it as is - you will progressively get worse and worse until vision is completely blurred at some point. Be thankful that such an easy and safe procedure is all that is needed now.   Good Luck.  Let us know how things go for you.  In the end - the yag laser capsulotomy should be a very pleasant experience for you.

Michael Kutryb, MD
Kutryb Eye Institute
Edgewater, FL

[sulile]

Thank you for comments.  One other question.  I read that when you have the posterior capsulotomy done, it is very common to have an increase in floaters.  Is this true?  I already have tons of floaters.  They are extremely bothersome, and the thought of having even more is troubling to say the least.  Just wondered how bad the floaters are.  Are they from the capsule itself?  Is the capsule kind of broken apart?  Thank you again.

Susan

[myra213]

I have had corneal transplant in june2007 they removed a cataract it has been 8 months and vision is 20/100 in that eye I have just hadposterior capsulotomy  4 days ago it hasn't made any inprovement. also tried glasses it also makes no change. Is there another step to help my vision  and is it possible it will never inprove
                                                           myra