Lasering of eyes

[prunus]

Had an appointment at the hospital and been diagnosed with blepharitis and also offered laser treatment for my left eye. Since my last post I have downloaded a lot of info about this and understand it involves cutting a hole in the lens capsule. The questions I have are:

1. Is there any harm in going ahead even though my Optometrist thought it was not ready.

2. Is there any liklihood of the lens bulging through this hole and causing more trouble in the future.

3. Will I be conscious of the periphery of the hole.

I would be grateful if anyone with in depth knowledge could advise.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Laser treatment for what prunus? I assume you mean the "secondary cataract" as it is not entirely accurately called.

icrcat.com/en/eye-condition...

As I understand it it is not cutting a hole in the lens itself as such but in the layer of cells that has formed OVER the lens - I may well be wrong.

But the optometrist and the/an eye surgeon are the persons to discuss it with. Obviously the hospital thinks that by the time you would get to surgery it would be ready - and only you can assess how much it is affecting your vision, just as was the case with the cataract.

[prunus in reply to PMRpro]

In 2014 I had cataract surgery as a result of taking predisolone for my GCA. Now I have developed posterior capsule opacification in my left eye. I had seen my optometrist about a week before the hospital appt. At that time he had indicated that at some stage I would need laser treatment but not yet. I was thus taken aback when I was offered this. The opinions of my optometrist and hospital seem to be at variance and I am in the middle. I was asked if I had any questions but then I was so taken aback I hadn't. When I contacted my optometrist he said ask on the day but then it seems a bit late. I'd rather find answers before then. I find your suggestion that they can just target the offending cells very interesting. Are there different lasers?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to prunus]

It all depends where you have the beam focussed.

Do you have an appointment for the laser procedure? It may be some time yet. And to be honest - I think I might listen to the eye specialist before an optometrist. One told me my retina was very thin and I MUST see an eye specialist as an emergency. Of course that didn't happen and I was scared stiff for a few months - only to be assured by the eye clinic doctor that while it was not full thickness, it was perfectly OK and I need not worry. I've had another appointment since then with a different doctor - no comment from him either.

[prunus in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for the reply. I have been given an appointment for the 11th June so time is not on my side for any research. I was taken aback to get such a quick appointment. It is for 8am. I'm wondering if it will be like when my second eye was operated on for cataract where the surgeon had everyone there at the same time - 7am - and then decided the order he was going to see people. That maybe was OK for him but I remember the gentleman who was first there taking a very dim view of it because he was going to be about last to go in in the afternoon.

[gifford7 in reply to prunus]

Here's a UK link on PCO:

rnib.org.uk/eye-health/eye-...

"Posterior capsule opacification – why laser treatment is sometimes needed following cataract surgery

Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) is a complication that can occur sometime after cataract surgery. It is fairly common; 10 per cent of people will develop PCO within two years of having cataract surgery. PCO can cause vision to become cloudy again.

The vision problems caused by PCO can make it seem as though your cataract has returned, but it can be easily treated with a quick, painless, outpatient laser procedure to make vision clear again. Once you have had the laser treatment, PCO doesn’t normally cause any long-term problems with your sight."

[prunus in reply to gifford7]

Thank you very much for that and the reassurance that it should not come back again.

[Nitrobunny in reply to PMRpro]

It is actually a less than pinhole sized hole through the CAPSULE that contains lens in order to let the light in so it may hit the lens replacement and refract properly. I had both eyes done in February. The main concern is that the lens has time to be anchored completely, about three months, sometimes more. It is a completely different laser (YAG laser) than the one used during cataract surgery and is done in a physicians office and is literally over in a minute.

[prunus in reply to Nitrobunny]

Many thanks for that - it is very reassuring. Having had moderate myopia(inherited) all my life it has made me realise how precious eyes are.