OUTCOMES OF NEODYMIUM YTTRIUM ALUMINUM GARNET (ND:YAG) LASER CAPSULOTOMY IN PATIENTS WITH POSTERIOR CAPSULAR OPACIFICATION

Abstract

Objective: To determine the pre and post outcomes of Nd:YAG Laser Capsulotomy in Patients with Posterior Capsular Opacification

Study design: Quasi experiment

Place of the study: Department of Ophthalmology, Civil Hospital, Karachi Karachi, over a period of six months.

Methodology: A total of 100 patients with visually significant PCO, underwent for Nd: YAG capsulotomy, age group between 18-70 years of either gender were included in the study via non-probability sampling technique. Each participant received a complete ophthalmic evaluation that involved the best-corrected visual acuity with a Snellen chart, Goldmann applanation tonometry to measure the IOP and optical coherence tomography for CMT. After that patients underwent for ND-YAG posterior capsulotomy procedure. The best-corrected visual acuity, IOP and CMT were measured again at two weeks of the post-procedure follow-up visit. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS version-26. Mean + SD were calculated for age, BMI, IOP & CMT. Frequency and percentage was calculated for gender, side of eye and BCVA. Paired independent t-test was applied to compare the pre and post CMT, IOP and BCVA. Mc-nemer test was applied to compare pre and post BCVA. P-value < 0.05 was taken as significant.

Results: 100 PCO patients were included, the sex predilection was not present among the patients and were treated with Nd YAG laser. Males were 54 and females were 46 with mean age was 51.91 ± 5.71 years. mean CMT was 250.73±62.15 µm and post procedure CMT was 261 ±59 µm with significant difference as p-value = 0.000. All patients showed a temporary rise in the intraocular pressure values after ND YAG laser capsulotomy with statistically significant difference as p-value = 0.000 which return to near normal of the base line values at the 1 week of follow up. The pre laser Best Corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of around 83% of eyes was between 6/18 and 6/60, while post procedure, 14% had > 6/6 and remaining all patients i.e. 84% had between 6/9 to 6/12. None of these eyes showed further deterioration in BCVA

Conclusion: Nd-YAG laser therapy presented the advantage of a noninvasive, effective, relatively safe technique to manage posterior capsular opacity.