YAG Laser May Worsen Diabetic Eye Disease After Cataract Surgery
A large study found that diabetic patients who undergo YAG laser capsulotomy after cataract surgery face higher risks of serious eye problems compared to those who don’t. The procedure, used to clear cloudy vision after cataract surgery, was linked to an increased chance of developing proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), vitreous hemorrhage, tractional retinal detachment, and neovascular glaucoma. These patients were also more likely to need panretinal photocoagulation (PRP), though not more likely to require vitrectomy surgery. Researchers reviewed records from over 10,000 patients with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy across 69 U.S. healthcare centers. They found YAG-treated patients had about 1.4–2 times higher risk for the complications mentioned. The findings suggest diabetic patients should be monitored closely after YAG, and future studies should examine how disease stage, age, and laser settings affect outcomes.