Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Repeat YAG lazer surgery?

I had cataract operations in the spring.  By the summer my eyesight began deteriorating and I was given YAG  lazer surgery in both eyes. I was advised this would correct the situation.   It was brilliant,  but now my sight is deteriorating again.  I am scared as I was told that the lazer surgery results would be permanent.  The deterioration is happening quickly again.  What's happening?
2 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Make an appointment to see your doctor again!

The lens capsule has NOT been removed.  When a cataract is removed, the lens capsule, the sac which hold the lens, IS maintained.  What happens is that the old lens, thickened and overgrown with natural lens cells, is broken up and sucked out--and the intraocular lens replacement is put into the lens capsule.

However, it is impossible to remove all those old lens cells.  They are still alive, and some of them may grow and attach themselves to the lens capsule into which the implant has been placed.  The result is foggy vision.

When that happens, you cannot see clearly anymore:  It's  just the same as soup smudges on your glasses--except cleaning is difficult.  Because it's impossible to scrape clean the thin, extremely delicate capsule walls, the eye surgeon cuts a hole in the back of the capsule, and makes a window which permits light to reach the retina and via the retina, the brain, which makes sense of the light it receives.

There are quite a few recent scientific papers noting that some patients, especially if they are youngish, have old lens cells that aggressively try to 'heal' the window made by the laser.  This may make it necessary to have 'repeated' laser work.

This ultimately can be very risky in several ways, so I suggest you get back to your ophthalmologist as soon as possible to talk about this.  You may need a referral to a super specialist in another area or at a specialized teaching hospital..
Helpful - 0
10949559 tn?1414050805
Hi judethedudette, it is not possible to repeat the surgery because the lens capsule has already been removed. The possible treatment would be a new prescription of eye glasses. You may visit your eye doctor and have your eyes be evaluated for the right lens.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Eye Care Community

Top General Health Answerers
177275 tn?1511755244
Kansas City, MO
Avatar universal
Grand Prairie, TX
Avatar universal
San Diego, CA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Discharge often isn't normal, and could mean an infection or an STD.
In this unique and fascinating report from Missouri Medicine, world-renowned expert Dr. Raymond Moody examines what really happens when we almost die.
Think a loved one may be experiencing hearing loss? Here are five warning signs to watch for.
When it comes to your health, timing is everything
We’ve got a crash course on metabolism basics.
Learn what you can do to avoid ski injury and other common winter sports injury.