Nd:YAG laser may improve corrected distance visual acuity after cataract surgery

Use of the Nd:YAG laser to lyse residual cortex after uncomplicated cataract surgery or intraoperative posterior capsular rupture yielded improvements in subjective vision and corrected distance visual acuity, according to a study.

The retrospective, interventional case series included 18 eyes of 18 consecutive patients who underwent Nd:YAG laser treatment for residual cortex after phacoemulsification. Mean follow-up was 40 days after last session of cortical lysis.

All subjects had subjective visual complaints before treatment with the Nd:YAG laser. Six subjects reported counting fingers or worse visual acuity. One session of cortical lysis successfully treated 11 patients (61%), while five patients needed two treatments and two patients needed three or more treatments.

At final follow-up, all subjects reported resolution of subjective visual symptoms, and mean logMAR corrected distance visual acuity improved from 0.90 ± 0.84 to 0.15 ± 0.37 (P = .001). Thirteen patients had corrected distance visual acuity of 20/25 or better, while the other five were considered to have limited postoperative visual potential.

Five patients had elevated IOP within 1 day of treatment, and one patient developed cystoid macular edema.

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Source:

Am J Ophthalmol. 2012;154(5):808-813.