How many times can you repeat YAG surgery after cataract surgery?

[cghymes140]

I had cataract surgery in one eye for long distance in Aug 2016 and 6 weeks later other for mid distance.  I had 20//20 in first surgery but almost immediately ran into problems with long beams of light. The second surgery wasn't quite as clear and I also experienced long beams.  I have astigmatism in both eyes and was first given new glasses to take of the refraction. They did not work at all so returned them.  Had YAG  laser on left eye in December and no luck in clearing night vision. I go for Yag in other eye in a couple of weeks. The beams in that eye has changed to long star bursts and both eyes have blurry vision.  Was thinking of giving up night driving and using glass lenses coated with antiglare and yellow tint for watching TV and computer as my eyes becoming severly fatigued.  Also asking the doctor to order specific reading glasses only for up close work. I can still use my prescription no line trifocals so don't see point in ordering new trifocals that are such a minute difference in vision plus doesn't help with refraction caused by astigmatism as well.  Would like to know if being able to continue with same RX lenses after cataract surgery and then continue having extreme refraction at night is common?

[JohnHaganMD]

Cataract surgery changes glasses RX; Yag laser capsulotomy doesn't. Your symptoms are uncommon but not rare after cataract surgery. Much more common with "preimimum" IOLs like ReStor, Crystalens and Symfony.  Most people can be helped, especially if yag capsulotomy done both eyes, by glasses to be worn at night. Since you've tried all of that with no help suggest you second independent opinion from a different cataract/IOL/Cornea/Refractive surgery. Need to be sure you have no disease of cornea or macula and that the IOLs you have are not dislocated, rotated, displaced.

[cghymes140]

Thank you!

[JohnHaganMD]

You are welcome