Yag laser capsulotomy

Although cataract surgery involves removing the cloudy lens of the eye and replacing it with a clear lens made from plastic, the thin, cellophane-like membrane or capsule that surrounds the lens is purposefully left behind. More specifically, the back part or posterior part of the capsule is left, while the front or anterior part is opened to allow the cloudy lens inside to be removed. This posterior part of the capsule acts as a barrier between the back and front compartments of the eye and helps the intraocular lens settle in place.

However, in about 10-15% of patients the normally clear posterior capsule becomes cloudy or wrinkled over time, blurring vision as if the cataract were growing back. Vision is restored with a quick and painless in-office Yag laser treatment that makes an opening in the cloudy posterior capsule, allowing for the clear passage of light through the pupil into the eye. Barring any rare complications such as swelling or detachment of the retina, vision is restored in a matter of hours.