Visual Outcome and Complications after Nd:YAG Laser Capsulotomy in Patients with Posterior Capsular Opacification - An Observational Study

Purpose:To compare the visual outcome and different complications after Nd:YAGLaser Capsulotomy in patients with Posterior Capsular Opacity and analyse thechanges in intraocular pressure following Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy.Patients andmethods:All the patients reporting at the OPD were evaluated clinically and by properhistory which included type of cataract surgery performed along with the date ofsurgery, and its functional impairment and symptoms of patients. A complete pre laserand post laser work up was done. Posterior Capsulotomy was performed with Nd:YAGLaser starting from a minimum pulse energy and then gradually increasing theenergy.Results:To Significant visual improvement was seen 1 hr after lasercapsulotomy. 12.7% of patients had improved visual acuity of 3/60-6/60 and 55.9%patients had VA of 6/60- 6/18 and 27.9% had improved visual acuity of 6/12-6/6; 4patients showed no visual improvement in VA. The percentage of patients with bettervisual acuity had increased gradually during follow up period – at 24 Hours, 1 week, 1month and 3 months. At the end of 3 months, 3.3% of patients had VA of less than3/60. 0.84%% of patients had VA of 3/60- 6/60, 26.27% of patients had VA of 6/36-6/18, and 69.49% of patients had VA of 6/12-6/6.Conclusion:The Nd:YAG laser is anoninvasive surgical tool that provides excellent posterior capsulotomies. It safe, leasttime consuming and readily acceptable to patients can be done as a day care procedure,thus preferred over surgical intervention that is, manual surgicalcapsulotomy