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Yag laser (for secondary cataract)

The YAG laser is a simple, painless and of short duration procedure performed in the ophthalmologist’s office to remove eye problems.

What you need to know about YAG laser (for secondary cataract)?

The YAG laser is a simple, painless, and short procedure performed in the ophthalmologist’s practice to remove secondary cataract. This is a simple and safe laser treatment commonly used to improve your vision after cataract surgery.

During the cataract surgery, the natural lens inside the eye that had become cloudy is removed. A new artificial lens is inserted into the lens capsule. This capsule can thicken after surgery and may become cloudy, interfering with the light that reaches the back of the eye. When this happens, your vision may become blurry and you may be disturbed by bright light or lights at night. The symptoms may be similar to the initial ones of cataract.

Capsule thickening can occur shortly after cataract surgery, but it more commonly appears a few years after the surgery. YAG laser capsulotomy is the only way to treat this. Secondary cataract does not affect the eye in any way.

In a YAG laser capsulotomy, the doctor uses a special laser to create a small incision in the center of the capsule, allowing light to pass through.

What happens during a YAG laser capsulotomy?

The treatment will be performed as a quick procedure in the doctor’s practice.  You will be administered some eye drops to dilate your pupil and anesthetic eye drops to numb the surface of the eye. The laser is similar to the slit lamp used to examine your eyes during a routine check-up, except that it has a special laser attached. The doctor will place a special contact lens on your eye before applying the laser beam. This lens allows the doctor to visualize the capsule more clearly in order to apply the laser and make a small incision in it, to improve vision.

The treatment is painless due to the anesthetic drops and lasts approximately 20 minutes.

When do you know that you need YAG Laser investigation?

The symptoms that require investigation with the YAG Laser are decreased vision, blurred vision, the same symptoms that the patient reports before cataract surgery.

The risks of this procedure

Complications after this treatment are very rare.

Sometimes the pressure inside the eye increases immediately after laser treatment. If this happens, you may need additional treatment before you can go home.

In extremely rare cases, some patients may develop a fluid accumulation in the macula (a part of the eye responsible for detailed central vision). This is called macular edema, which causes blurring or distortion of vision. Another extremely rare complication is retinal detachment, when the thin light-sensitive membrane at the back of the eye separates from the wall of the eye.

If you have the following symptoms, it means you urgently need an examination and possibly treatment:

  • excessive pain
  • the sudden appearance of floating particles (black spots caused by small pieces of debris floating in the vitreous humor of the eye)
  • loss of vision
  • flashing lights
  • the growth of a red spot on the eye.

If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your ophthalmologist immediately.

MAKE AN APPOINTMENT

You can make an appointment quickly via the form on the right, or directly over the phone. Our colleagues at the reception desk will be happy to provide you with the availability and information you need to make an appointment. Filling in the form does not represent the registration or confirmation of an appointment, but submitting an appointment request. You will be contacted by our team to check the availability of doctors and make an appointment.

SEE PRACTICES AND CLINICS

Important note regarding patient consultations and surgery appointments

A patient who cancels a consultation or surgery appointment once, at least one day prior to the scheduled appointment, has the right to a second appointment under the same conditions.
If the patient cancels the second consultation and/or surgery appointment, a new appointment can be made only if the patient accepts to pay for both the consultation and the surgery in advance. This can be done either by payment order or in cash at the clinic reception.
A patient who does not show up for their consultation or surgery, who does not cancel the appointment in due time, or does not answer the clinic’s calls, may request a second appointment only if they pay for the consultation/surgery in advance. 
Patients requesting an appointment for retinal surgeries or laser Prk/Femtolasik/Smile Pro must pay 30% of the cost of the surgery in advance. The appointment will be scheduled only after receiving the advance payment. If the patient is unable to attend the scheduled consultation or surgery, and cancels the intervention at least 48 hours beforehand, they will be refunded in full. If the patient does not show up and does not cancel or contact the clinic at least 48 hours in advance, the advance paid is considered to be lost as damages and will no longer be refunded.