yag laser doubts

On february 18th I had a cataract surgery on my RE. Everything was perfect but in less than a month my RE developed a PCO.
Yesterday (11/30), my doctor and I agreed that I should do a yag laser capsulotomy.
My far vision is not so bad, but the RE near vision is very bad (and yes, it was much better after surgery).
I read a lot and work with computers so I a good near vision is important to me.
I have schedule the yag laser procedure on 12/15, so I will do this procedure in about 10 months from my cataract surgery. As i read on many posts, 10 months past the cataract surgery is considered safe for the yag laser, right ?
Also I learned here at medhelp that yag laser is a very safe procedure, but has its risks, retinal detachment is one of them. I also learned that retinal detachment risk is higher on high myopic eyes, but I wonder what is considered high myopic. My RE is now plano, but I had -5 of myopia before cataract surgery, so my RE is a myopic eye corrected by an IOL. Is -5 of myopia considered high myopia ? I had my retina examined twice this year with no sign of tears.
Thanks in advance for any comment.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Asking how high is  high myopia is sort of asking how tall is really tall. The most consistent parameters are High myopia is considered worse than 6.0 diopters or an axial length greater than 26.5 millimeters

JCH MD

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Yag laser capsulotomy is the safest, quickest, most pain free and very inexpensive treatment most eye surgeons do. Like driving an automobile it is not risk free.

Most doctors would say high myopia is greater than about -4 to -6 myopia.

JCH MD

[ledbrv]

Hi Dr. John,

After answering so many questions of course it is expected that you forget one question or another. I should have mentioned that you told me early this year that yag laser is very safe (if I am not wrong you expressions was "yag laser is soooo sweeet!!"). So, once again thank you for your comments.

About the high myopic question, I can say that I am at the beginning of the high myopic range, right ?
Well, it has passed 10 months from my surgery, my doctor did not see any problems, my surgery recovery was very good, and this PCO is disturbing a lot my near vision, and my far vision could be better, like it was right after surgery, driving at night for exemplo, although possible, is not comfortable, so I will take my chances with the yag laser. I will post here the results.

Again, thank you for your comments.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Asking how high is  high myopia is sort of asking how tall is really tall. The most consistent parameters are High myopia is considered worse than 6.0 diopters or an axial length greater than 26.5 millimeters

JCH MD

[ledbrv]

I had the Yag laser capsulotomy done on my OD yesterday evening. As you said it was quick and painless. So far, about 24 hours after the procedure, the result is pretty good. I would say that my OD vision now is about 95% it was right after cataract surgery. Images now are much more clear, I also notice a improvement on contrast and colors. Reading and work with computers is also much easier now. The only complaint I could do is a little glare at night when I look at car headlights and similar light sources, but it is a minor issue. I wonder if the result could improve even more after a few days, but in resume, so far I am very satisfied with the procedure outcome.

By the way, If I understood right the IOLMaster biometry I did before surgery, my OD axial length is 26.80mm. On the IOLMaster reports there is this line "AL: 26.80mm (SD=0,03mm, SNR=241,5)". Here "AL" stands for Axial Length, right ?

Thanks in advance for your clarifications.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Yes, it is much less likely to bother you a month from now, even a week from now.

Yes AL means axial length.  

JCH MD

[tomfar]

I had catarac surgery in both eyes the week of Thankgiving when i was visiting my son in California. The surgeon told me i needed a Yag laser in my left eye when i returned home. the right eye had streaks going thru all on comming headlights which was very annoying. I waited about 4 months before i found a doctor to check me. I contacted the surgeon in Cal and he told me a Yag laser would eliminate the streak problem. I had the Yag done in both eyes these past 2 weeks, yesterday i had the eye that had no streaks done and now today i have streaks in that eye, and the eye that had streaks after surgery still has the streaks after the Yag. My thoughs are be careful when you deside to have Yag laser. Did anyone have this experence after having a Yag?