Posterior Capsulotomy is a surgical procedure that involves making a small hole in the posterior lens capsule. The hole is made with a YAG laser.
The procedure is performed in patients who had a cataract extraction with an intraocular lens implant, and have developed what is known as a secondary cataract, or posterior lens opacification.
Secondary cataracts cause a decrease in the patient’s visual acuity. The complication occurs in about 10-30% of patients after cataract surgery.
Capsulotomy is a quick and painless procedure.
- Before the procedure, the patient’s visual acuity is tested and the intraocular pressure is measured.
- Pupil-dilating drops are administered.
- During the procedure, the patient should sit still and try not to move his head or eye. Any movement may result in the procedure being ineffective, it may cause bleeding if the laser hits blood vessels, and, in rare cases, may end up in irreversible tissue damage.
- Laser treatment requires pupil dilation, which lasts for up to 3 hours after administration of the drops, therefore patients should not drive after the procedure.
- For several weeks or even months after the capsulotomy, the patient may experience seeing black flies moving in front of the eye.
Important! Very rarely a reaction from the retina can occur in the form of retinal tear, macular edema and even retinal detachment. Therefore, if 2-3 weeks after the capsulotomy procedure the vision deteriorates, the patient must see an ophthalmologist immediately.