Frequency of retinal detachment and other complications after neodymium:Yag laser capsulotomy.

OBJECTIVE To document the frequency of retinal detachment and other complications associated with Nd:Yag laser capsulotomy. METHODS This prospective study was conducted among patients who underwent Nd:Yag laser capsulotomy in a tertiary care hospital in a period of one year. All patients had a thorough slit lamp biomicroscopic examination before and after the capsulotomy. A follow-up was done for one year and the patients were examined for retinal detachment and other complications at each visit. RESULTS The study comprised 104 eyes subjected to Nd:Yag laser capsulotomy for the treatment of posterior capsular opacification. There were 55 males and 49 females with a mean age of 59.5 +/- 6.2 years. Majority of the patients (93.3%) who underwent capsulotomy presented within 3 years after cataract surgery. The incidence of retinal detachment was 1.9% while that of cystoid macular oedema was 9.6%. CONCLUSION The incidence of retinal detachment after Nd:Yag laser capsulotomy in our institution was 1.9% which is similar to incidence rates worldwide. However, that of cystoid macular oedema was markedly higher at 9.6% when compared to incidence rates worldwide.