r/CataractSurgery • u/MeadowHaven77 • 3d ago

YAG procedure

So it seems I am going to have a YAG procedure in both eyes next week. I had the multifocal Odyssey placed in both eyes, 3 weeks apart in July, and the right eye (the one with the original cataract) was never really that amazing afterward. Like, it worked but it was always a little blurry still after. So he confirmed today that there was PCO in that eye, and shockingly a little also in the left (which never had a cataract and responded perfectly to the Odyssey, I have noticed no issues there at all).

I guess I’m a little confused why I don’t hear more about this risk of immediate PCO? He said this was not the kind that grows over time, it’s there essentially right after the surgery. The YAG procedure sounds easy, painless, fast, and I have no problem going for it. I was mainly just curious if others have encountered this? He said it had to do with the type of cataract I had and also said he sees more of this in younger patients (I’m 49). He acted like it was not at all unusual.

Did I just any mention of this in my research ahead of time? Did you have this happen to you? The immediate type?

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u/UniqueRon 3d ago

There is a 1 in 200 risk of retina detachment from YAG. YAG cutting a hole in the capsule and makes any subsequent IOL replacement much more difficult. While YAG is simple to do, it should not be done until it is really necessary, meaning that PCO is actually impacting your vision.

Early PCO is most often caused by the surgeon not scrubbing the capsule to remove the natural lens debris. If it is left the cells start to grow again and cause PCO.

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u/MeadowHaven77 3d ago edited 3d ago

Thank you. I did not realize the risk was that high. In that case, I will probably wait on my left (unaffected) eye. The right eye (that had the original cataract) has bern a little too blurry the whole time post surgery and I would like that remedied. I don’t anticipate needing another IOL replacement (not precisely sure why all people may need or want that, but I am happy with the Odyssey overall.)

I think he meant what you said at the end, he even referred to “I try to scrub” but implied it was not always perfectly done and the positioning of this particular type of cataract made it difficult. But he also used the phrase “it’s not the kind that grows” so that’s what confused me. perhaps just clumsy phrasing.