COMPLICATIONS VS EFFICACY OF ND-YAG LASER CAPSULOTOMY

Objective: To evaluate efficacy and complications of Nd YAG laser capsulotomy in patients having posterior capsular
opacification.
Materials and Methods: This prospective case study was conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology, Hayatabad
medical complex, Peshawar, over a period of eighteen months from January 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013. Four
hundred patients with significant posterior capsular opacity were subjected to laser treatment after performing pre
laser assessment. Nd YAG laser posterior capsulotomy was carried out with Q-switched SYL 9000 YAG laser system
under topical anesthesia with Abraham’s capsulotomy lens. These patients were assessed for post laser visual acuity
and possible complications.
Results: Out of 400 patients, 160 (40%) were male and 240 (60%) patients were female. The patients were subdivided
into various age groups. The age group 1 was from 11 to 30 years, age group 2 was between 31 to 40 years, age group
3 was from 41 to 50 years and last group i.e., 4th group included patients who were more than 50 years of age. The age
group 1,2,3 and 4 had a frequency of PCO of about 10 patients (2.5%), 24 patients (6%), 34 patients (8.5%) and 332
patients (83%) respectively. The time interval between cataract surgery and laser was from 3 months to 4 years. The
best corrected visual acuity of 6/9-6/6 was achieved from zero to 76.5% whereas the frequency of poor best corrected
visual acuity (6/60-CF) was reduced from 67.5% to 3% only.
Discussion: During and following Nd YAG laser capsulotomy, out of 400 patients, 88 (22%) of the patients developed
complications while 312 (78%) patients remained free of any complication. About 60 patients (15%) developed intra
ocular lens pitting. 20 patients (5%) developed rise in IOP. 4 patients (1%) showed rupture of anterior vitreous face, 4
(1%) patients developed cystoids macular edema.
Conclusion: The Nd YAG laser procedure is a safe and effective OPD procedure, leading to marked improvement in
vision.
Key words: Nd, YAG laser, Posterior capsular opacification, Intra ocular lens.