Objectives:

To evaluate the changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), central corneal thickness (CCT), and spherical equivalent (SE) before and after Nd: YAG laser capsulotomy.

Materials and Methods:

This study included 68 patients (40 men, 28 women) who had posterior capsule opacification. The subjects underwent Nd: YAG laser capsulotomy with a minimal energy and shooting number. BCVA, IOP, CCT, and SE were measured before and 1 week, 1 and 3 months after laser capsulotomy. The post-treatment measurements were compared with the pre-treatment ones statistically.

Results:

There were statistically significant differences between pre- and post-laser BCVA values at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months (p<0.05). BCVA measurement at 1 week was not statistically significantly different from those at 1 and 3 months (p>0.05). There were statistically significant differences between pre- and post-laser SE values at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months (p<0.001). The SE value at 1 week was not statistically significantly different from those at 1 and 3 months (p=0.068 and p=0.541, respectively). There were statistically significant differences between pre- and post-laser CCT values at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months (p<0.001), however, no statistically significant differences were found between the CCT measurement at 1 week and those at 1 and 3 months (p=0.296 and p=0.304, respectively). There were statistically significant differences between pre- and post-laser IOP values at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months (p<0.001), while there were no statistically significant differences between IOP measurements at 1 week and those at 1 and 3 months (p=0.438 and p=0.664, respectively).

Conclusion:

Substantial changes were observed, especially at first postoperative week, for BCVA, IOP, CCT, and SE in patients with posterior capsule opacification who underwent Nd: YAG laser capsulotomy.

Keywords: Cataract, posterior capsulotomy, Nd: Yag laser