Cataract Surgery, YAG Laser & LASIK

Question: I had Cataract Surgery with a Lens Implant in one eye. I now have a Cataract in the other eye. Will I just need Cataract removal and another Lens Implant or will it require additional Lasik Surgery to get good vision?

Answer: During Cataract Surgery to remove a Cataract it is usual and customary to correct the vision using a Lens Implant. Lens Implants today can correct distance, intermediate and near vision and can also be used to correct astigmatism after Cataract Surgery. LASIK Surgery is a method of vision correction that uses a laser to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism to help people become less dependent or even independent of glasses for seeing at a distance, BUT IS NOT typically part of the Cataract vision correction process, unless there is a significant amount of uncorrected refractive error after the Cataract and Lens Implant Surgery that could not be corrected by a Lens Implant, or perhaps if the patient absolutely did not wish to wear eyeglasses.

SO-to answer your question-it is NOT typical to need LASIK after Cataract Surgery. NOW, what you may be referring to, which is quite a bit more common after Cataract and Lens Implant Surgery, is a YAG Laser Capsulotomy-which is NOT LASIK. When your Cataract Surgeon removes the Cataract, he or she will typically leave the "capsule" of the crystalline lens in place and use it as support for the placement of the Lens Implant. The lens capsule often does become cloudy-referred to as posterior capsular opacification-and needs to be opened by the Cataract Surgeon some time after Cataract Surgery. The procedure of opening the lens capsule is called YAG Laser Capsulotomy and is a quick and effective method of using a laser to create a clear opening in the capsule, so that you get the best possible vision after Cataract Surgery. In general 30-40% of patients who have Cataracts removed will require a YAG Laser Capsulotomy in order to get the best vision.

Important Note: The information presented on the About Cataract Surgery Blog or provided in response to a request for information in the Ask Cataract Surgeons section on aboutcataractsurgery.com is not intended to diagnose or treat eye problems, eye conditions or eye diseases including appropriateness of treatment, risks, complications or side effects as related to Cataracts, Cataract Surgery of Lens Implants. In particular a response to an inquiry made on the Ask Cataract Surgeons section of aboutcataractsurgery.com is not meant to take the place of the professional medical care provided by your eye doctor, ophthalmologist and Cataract Surgeon surgeon. Contacting us via e-mail or any other means is not a substitute for medical care.