A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON VISUALACUITY AND INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE CHANGES IN PATIENTS OF POSTERIOR CAPSULAR OPACIFICATION BEFORE AND AFTER NEODYMIUM –YTTRIUM ALUMINUM– GARNET[Nd YAG LASER] CAPSULOTOMY

INTRODUCTION : Cataract is the leading cause of curable blindness, primarily affecting middle-aged and elderly individuals, impacting their daily life, mental well-being, and economic productivity. Surgical options such as phacoemulsification, extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE), and small incision cataract surgery (SICS) with posterior chamber intraocular lens (PCIOL) implantation significantly restore vision. However, many patients develop posterior capsular opacity (PCO), or after-cataract, within three months to four years post-surgery, leading to recurrent visual impairment. Nd: YAG laser capsulotomy effectively treats PCO non-invasively, improving visual acuity. Evaluating post-procedure outcomes, managing complications, and ensuring long-term vision stability are essential for patient care. AIM : To study and compare on visual acuity and intraocular pressure changes in patients of posterior capsular opacification before and after Neodymium –yttrium aluminum– garnet[ND yag laser] capsulotomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study included 100 post-cataract surgery patients with symptomatic posterior capsular opacification (PCO) and a posterior chamber intraocular lens (PCIOL) with visual acuity <6/18, evaluated between July 2022 and June 2024. After assessment and counseling, eligible patients underwent Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy. Those with corneal pathology, glass IOL implants, cystoid macular edema, intraocular inflammation, or difficulty maintaining fixation were excluded. The procedure was performed in an outpatient setting, with follow-ups scheduled at 3 and 15 days to assess visual outcomes and potential complications. RESULTS: Routine preoperative prophylaxis with Iotim (0.5%) or Brimonidine (0.1–0.2%) effectively maintained intraocular pressure (IOP) stability. Postprocedure complications were minimal, with iritis in 27 patients and cystoid macular edema in one, all successfully managed without significant vision loss.Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy significantly improves vision and daily function, especially in rural, economically disadvantaged patients. Its non-invasive, painless, and cost-effective nature makes it widely accepted, with no hospitalization needed. Proper preprocedure counseling is essential.