The eye’s natural lens sits in a thin capsular bag, and after cataract surgery the back of this capsule can become cloudy over time, a common condition called posterior capsular haze or “secondary cataract,” affecting up to 40% of patients. This is treated with a quick, painless outpatient procedure called YAG Laser Capsulotomy, which uses a laser to clear the cloudy capsule and typically restores vision with little to no downtime.
Argon Laser Trabeculoplasty (ALT) is a quick outpatient laser procedure used to treat open-angle glaucoma by improving fluid drainage in the eye and lowering intraocular pressure when eye drops are no longer effective. The procedure takes only a few minutes, involves minimal discomfort, may cause temporary blurred vision, and follow-up visits are scheduled to monitor results, with repeat treatment possible if needed.
Panretinal photocoagulation laser surgery is used to treat proliferative diabetic retinopathy by causing abnormal retinal blood vessels to regress, helping prevent severe bleeding and vision loss. The treatment is done over multiple sessions lasting 15–20 minutes each, may cause temporary discomfort, irritation, and blurred vision, and can result in some permanent reduction in night and peripheral vision, which is a necessary tradeoff to control the disease.
Patients with disorders affecting the blood vessels of the macula, in particular diabetic retinopathy and retinal vein occlusion, often require this procedure. The laser decreases the leakage from damaged blood vessels, helping to preserve normal retinal thickness and function. The purpose of the laser is to prevent, in most cases, the further worsening of the central vision; and in many cases improve the central vision that was blurred because of the macular edema. The procedure is painless and does not take long to perform.