PCO & YAG Laser CareClear answers · Personal care

YAG laser capsulotomy is a laser procedure you may need after cataract surgery. It helps you see clearly if your vision becomes cloudy again. The procedure is usually painless and is typically needed only once per eye.

When you have cataract surgery, your Ophthalmologist removes your eye’s cloudy lens. They replace it with a clear, artificial intraocular lens (IOL). The IOL is held in place in the eye’s natural lens capsule.

Days, weeks, months or years later, this capsule can become cloudy or wrinkled, causing blurry vision. This is called a posterior capsule opacification (PCO). It’s also sometimes called a “secondary cataract” or “scar tissue.” With posterior capsulotomy, a laser is used to make an opening in the cloudy capsule. This allows light to pass through again for clear vision.

PCO is a common, treatable change after cataract surgery. It does not mean your cataract has grown back. With some advanced-technology lenses, including multifocal and trifocal designs, even mild clouding may be more noticeable.

What Happens During Posterior Capsulotomy?

The procedure is done in your Ophthalmologist’s office. It only takes about 5 minutes. Here is what will happen:

• You will be given drops to dilate your eye, along with other drops to prepare your eye for the procedure.
• Your Ophthalmologist will point a special laser at the back of the lens capsule and make a small opening.
• Once your vision is clear after the procedure, you can usually do all of your normal daily activities. But you may need to have someone drive you home. Your Ophthalmologist will tell you if there are things you should not do right after the procedure.
• You may need to use eye-drop medicine for one week after the procedure. Your Ophthalmologist will let you know if this is necessary.
• If you have no other eye problems affecting your vision, your sight should improve in about 24 hours.

What Are the Risks of Posterior Capsulotomy?

As with any procedure, there are possible risks and complications with posterior capsulotomy. Here are some of them:

• Retinal tear or retinal detachment (<1% in a large one-year registry analysis). Individual risk varies depending on your eye health.
• The pressure in your eye may increase.
• The IOL might move through the posterior capsule opening.
• You may have swelling in your eye, and you may need eye drops.

Contact your Ophthalmologist immediately for new flashes, a sudden increase in floaters, a shadow or curtain in your vision, sudden vision loss or significant eye pain.

Retinal risk reference: 2026 ASCRS IRIS® Registry analysis (conference abstract). The combined one-year rate of retinal tear or detachment was 0.49%; this is a study estimate, not an individual risk prediction.