Yag Laser

Posted by bighead @bighead, Dec 16, 2024

Has anyone had the Yag Laser to correct wrinkles in the Capsule after Cateract surgery?
Fantastic daytime vision but wrinkles in the capsule of both eyes giving me a bit of Maddox Rod Syndrome streaks of light. I had real bad nighttime driving road glare before the Laser surgery . Cateract surgery didn't fix the
Headlight glare but added what I call a lightning bolt streak that I can only see with bright lights at night usually oncoming headlights in traffic. Curious if Yag fixed whatever your doctor used it for. I have never had this level of fantastic vision so I may be over protective of it. I am going to have it done since I trust my doctor but it won't be until March so plenty of time to gather feedback. Supposedly in a small percentage of patients have minor side effects of Yag.

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tillymack | @tillymack | Dec 16, 2024

I have the same Maddox rod effect plus starbursts, glare, and haze. My IOL is a J&J Tecnis monofocal providing excellent daytime distance vision without the above positive dysphotopsias.
I am waiting on yag since my positive dysphotopsias may worsen after this procedure.

elliott1953 | @elliott1953 | Dec 18, 2024

Yes, I had a wrinkle(s) in the capsule and the maddox rod effect and was informed it could be corrected by the Yag laser.

Even though it's considered a very safe procedure, I decided to forego the Yag and the supposed rare possibility of a complication at least until my vision might be effected by the common post cataract surgery complication of posterior capsular opacification (pco) which clouds the lens like having another cataract.

Unfortunately, I developed PCO quite quickly - four months post surgery. The Yag was the fix for restoring vision lost by PCO.

The Yag did remove the PCO and restored my 20/20 vision. It also elimiated that annoying 45 degree maddox rod effect.

I did, however, have another minor complication from the Yag - long very thin streaks of glare that often swirled at lights at night. However, I have found it less annoying than the thicker constant 45 degree maddox rod effect and have adjusted to it over a few months.

I don't know if this complication is due to the size or location of the holes made by the Yag and haven't returned to my cataract surgeon to discuss it. I asked my optometrist if it might be due to the iris iridotomy procedure I had years ago which made holes in my iris and she said it's possible since those holes are close to the implanted lens.

It doesn't interfere with my night driving or my life really and overall I've been happy with the vision that the cataract surgeries have given me.

I am seeing my opthamologist and my retinal surgeon in the new year and will ask them about this complication. I would like to know the actual cause but, even if there is a quick and relatively safe fix, I doubt I would risk any further laser treatment to correct this minor complication unless my vision deteriorated or was otherwise interfering with my life.

Best wishes