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Medical Forum / General / Vision / May 2005YAG procedure for capsular opacification
Doctors - is it true that the YAG procedure after cataract surgery runs the risk of retinal detachment ? I'm approximately 5 mos post-op, and have signs of a secondary cataract. My eye doc is very conservative and says not to do the procedure until it is necessary (affecting the vision). He also says that 30% of cataract surgery patients end up with this secondary cataract. True? And, it has nothing to do with how the surgery was done in the first place - sometimes it 'just happens'. True again? > Doctors - is it true that the YAG procedure after cataract surgery runs > the risk of retinal detachment ? It does. I'm approximately 5 mos post-op, and > have signs of a secondary cataract. My eye doc is very conservative and > says not to do the procedure until it is necessary (affecting the > vision). That's for sure. Why would you want to? He also says that 30% of cataract surgery patients end up > with this secondary cataract. True? And, it has nothing to do with how > the surgery was done in the first place - sometimes it 'just happens'. > True again? Sort of true. Newer IOL lens designs, esp. those with sharply squared off edges, seem to prevent or at least retard the problem. Also, careful polishing of the capsule intra-operatively seems to help. But some people just get it, and need to be lasered. A one time quick fix that usually works just fine. w.stacy, o.d. >> Doctors - is it true that the YAG procedure after cataract surgery runs >> the risk of retinal detachment ? > > It does. Reported incidence seems to vary widely from one study to the next. I've never seen anything higher than 4%, usually much less.  SignatureRobert T. Kopp http://analytic.tripod.com/ > Reported incidence seems to vary widely from one study to the next. I've > never seen anything higher than 4%, usually much less. Whatever the percent I am in it. Cataract ---> YAG ----> Detachment. I did not know there was a risk until afterwords. SignatureCharles Sorry to hear that. How did the repair go? Were you myopic before the cataract? If so, how high? w.stacy, o.d. >>Reported incidence seems to vary widely from one study to the next. I've >>never seen anything higher than 4%, usually much less. > > Whatever the percent I am in it. Cataract ---> YAG ----> Detachment. I > did not know there was a risk until afterwords. > Sorry to hear that. How did the repair go? Were you myopic before the > cataract? If so, how high? I was myopic---about -9. The repair went very well. I can see 20/20 with correction. (contact lens) The worst part was when it occured and the several weeks I had to be with my head down after the surgery. I have a cataract forming in the other eye, it is very small right now, and will wait as long as possible before having that cataract removed. SignatureCharles > I was myopic---about -9. The repair went very well. I can see 20/20 > with correction. (contact lens) The worst part was when it occured and > the several weeks I had to be with my head down after the surgery. Wow. I know that's got to be the worst thing. Glad it worked out. I > have a cataract forming in the other eye, it is very small right now, > and will wait as long as possible before having that cataract removed. Well I'm not so sure I'd wait. I mean I know you're at risk for another detachment in the unoperated eye, but you're probably MORE at risk in a couple of years than you are now. Remember, retinas also thin with *age*. But I understand. One thing I'd recommend is to seek out the best possible surgeon for the other eye. I know it's not too nice of me to say this, but I do believe the best surgeons have the lowest complication rates. I define a cataract specialist as one who limits their practice to cataract surgery. There aren't many of those around, but they tend to be very, very good. w.stacy, o.d. > Well I'm not so sure I'd wait. I mean I know you're at risk for another > detachment in the unoperated eye, but you're probably MORE at risk in a > couple of years than you are now. Remember, retinas also thin with *age*. I see a retina specialist every year as a followup. He strongly advised me to wait. > But I understand. One thing I'd recommend is to seek out the best > possible surgeon for the other eye. I know it's not too nice of me to > say this, but I do believe the best surgeons have the lowest > complication rates. I define a cataract specialist as one who limits > their practice to cataract surgery. There aren't many of those around, > but they tend to be very, very good. That is what I will be doing. The surgeon who did my first cataract who has retired, was such. There are actually quite a few around here that limit their surgery to cataracts. Same with retina surgeons. I had the detachment repaired by a surgeon who only does retinas. SignatureCharles > I see a retina specialist every year as a followup. He strongly advised > me to wait. OK then I'd follow his advice. When the time comes, a retina specialist is a good source to aim you toward the best (or away from the worst) cataract surgeons. At least they know who screws up the most, because they end up fixing all the broken ones. I hate to say it, but I also wouldn't chose one who was anything close to retirement, any more than I'd want one fresh out of residency. I'd want one in his/her prime. IMO, that means between ages 30 and 60. Your mileage may vary. To all you old and young docs, sorry to be blunt, but that's the way it is. w.stacy, o.d. |
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