YAG laser capsulotomy in San Antonio
A quick, painless, in-office laser treatment for blurry vision after cataract surgery
If your vision has become hazy or blurry months or years after cataract surgery, a thin film may have formed behind your artificial lens. This is called posterior capsule opacification (PCO), sometimes called a “secondary cataract.” A YAG laser capsulotomy opens a small clear window in that film in just a few minutes, in our office, with no incisions. Dr. Jones performs the procedure himself, and we treat patients whose cataract surgery was done elsewhere.
Reviewed by Dr. Relief Jones, III, M.D. · Last updated: October 6, 2026
At a glance
| What it treats | Cloudy film behind the lens implant (posterior capsule opacification) |
| Procedure | Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy using the Lumenis Selecta Duet |
| Where | In our office, no ambulatory surgery center or operating room needed |
| Time | The laser takes a few minutes per eye. We recheck your eye pressure 20-30 minutes afterward |
| Comfort | Painless. Numbing drops let us place the treatment lens comfortably |
| Restrictions | None. Return to your normal activities |
| Aftercare | A prescribed steroid drop 4 times a day for 7 days; follow-up visit typically 1-2 weeks later |
| Eyes treated | One eye at a time. If your second eye meets the criteria, it is typically treated about 1 week later |
| Insurance | An insurance-covered procedure. We check your policy so you know your out-of-pocket costs. |
| Performed by | Dr. Relief Jones, III, M.D. |
What is posterior capsule opacification (PCO)?
During cataract surgery, your surgeon removes the cloudy natural lens and places a clear artificial lens (IOL) inside a thin, transparent membrane called the lens capsule. That membrane stays in the eye to hold the new lens in place.
Over time, cells can grow on the back of the capsule and make it cloudy, like frosted glass behind your lens implant. This is not a new cataract and your cataract surgery did not fail. The lens implant is fine; the membrane behind it has become hazy.
PCO is one of the most common long-term effects of cataract surgery. Studies report it in roughly 10% to 30% of eyes over several years, depending on the lens design and the patient. It can appear months or even years after surgery.
Symptoms of a cloudy capsule
- Blurry or hazy vision that returns after you’d been seeing well
- Glare or halos around lights, especially at night
- Trouble reading, or needing more light
- Colors or contrast that seem dull or washed out
- A feeling of looking through wax paper or a dirty window
Many other conditions can cause blurry vision, including dry eye, glaucoma, and macular problems, so an eye exam is needed to confirm the cause before treatment. If you have a multifocal or extended depth of focus lens, PCO can also reduce the benefit of your Premium IOL (more so than it does with a monofocal IOL).
How YAG laser capsulotomy works
A YAG laser delivers brief, precise pulses of light to the cloudy capsule behind your lens implant. The pulses open a small, clear central opening so light can pass straight through again. Nothing is cut through the surface of the eye, and the lens implant stays where it is.
The procedure is painless because the back of the lens capsule has no nerve supply. The opening is permanent: once the capsule is opened, the haze does not come back in the same way, so most patients need the treatment only once per eye.
What to expect
Before. Our technician checks your eye pressure, then places a pressure-lowering drop and a dilating drop in the eye being treated. Numbing drops follow so we can place the treatment lens on your eye. If your cataract surgery was done elsewhere, bring your records if you have them, plus your glasses and a list of your eye drops.
During. Dr. Jones performs the laser treatment using the Lumenis Selecta Duet. You’ll see flashes of light and may hear a faint clicking sound, but you should not feel pain. The laser portion takes only a few minutes.
Right after. Dr. Jones places a pressure-lowering drop and an anti-inflammatory steroid drop in your eye. We set a timer and, 20 to 30 minutes later, recheck your eye pressure. If your pressure has not spiked, you can check out. If it has spiked or risen, we place more pressure-lowering drops and you will not be allowed to check out right away. We keep monitoring your pressure until we deem it safe.
Getting home. Because the eye being treated is dilated, your vision may be blurry and sensitive to light for a few hours. Most patients can drive themselves home, but bring a driver if you don’t feel comfortable driving that way.
At home. We prescribe a steroid drop the day of your procedure. You’ll use it 4 times a day for 7 days. The day of your laser is day 0, so the next day is day 1 of 7 (for example, if your laser is on a Friday, Saturday is day 1). There are no restrictions after the procedure. Many patients notice clearer vision within hours to a day or two, and you may see a few small floaters for days or weeks; they usually fade.
Follow-up. Patients typically return for a follow-up visit 1 to 2 weeks after the laser.
Second eye. Only one eye is treated at a time. If your other eye also meets the criteria for treatment, we typically schedule it about a week later.
Risks and safety
YAG laser capsulotomy has an excellent safety record, and serious problems are uncommon. Possible effects include:
- A temporary rise in eye pressure. To reduce this risk, we use pressure-lowering drops before and after the laser and recheck your pressure 20-30 minutes later. If it rises, we place more drops and keep monitoring you until we deem it safe.
- Floaters
- Mild inflammation, which is why we place an anti-inflammatory drop after the treatment and prescribe a week of steroid drops
- Small marks on the lens implant that usually don’t affect vision
- Rarely, swelling in the macula or a retinal detachment (a small increase in risk, higher in people who are very nearsighted)
Call us right away if you notice a sudden shower of new floaters, flashes of light, a shadow or curtain over part of your vision, severe pain, or a sudden drop in vision-the emergency number will be provided in writing on the day of the procedure.
Is this right for you?
You may be a candidate if you’ve had cataract surgery, your vision has become blurry again, and your exam shows a cloudy posterior capsule as the cause. It doesn’t matter where your cataract surgery was done. If your exam shows another cause, we’ll explain what we found and recommend the right treatment. Not sure whether your vision change is PCO? Request an exam and we’ll find out.
Why choose San Antonio Eye & Face Institute
- Physician-owned and operated. Dr. Jones, who performs this laser, is a cataract and glaucoma surgeon and an owner of the practice.
- Cataract specialists. Dr. Jones performs laser cataract surgery with premium lens options, so we understand your lens implant and your visual goals.
- Treatment in our office. No operating room, no general anesthesia, and no restrictions afterward.
- Patients welcome from other surgeons. We see patients whose cataract surgery was done elsewhere.
- Careful safety checks. We check your eye pressure before and after the laser, and we don’t let you check out if it has risen until we deem it safe.
- Clear answers. We explain your findings, your options, what to expect, and what your insurance will cover.
Request an Appointment – Call (210) 485-1488
Frequently asked questions
Does YAG laser capsulotomy hurt? No. The procedure is painless because the back of the lens capsule has no nerve supply. We place numbing drops so the treatment lens can sit comfortably on your eye, and you may see flashes of light and hear faint clicking.
How long does the procedure take? The laser itself takes only a few minutes per eye. We also recheck your eye pressure 20 to 30 minutes afterward, so you will be with us a little longer than the laser alone.
Why do you check my eye pressure after the laser? Eye pressure can rise temporarily after YAG laser treatment. We give pressure-lowering drops before and after the laser, then recheck your pressure 20 to 30 minutes later. If your pressure has not spiked, you can check out. If it has spiked or risen, we place more pressure-lowering drops and you will not be allowed to check out right away. We keep monitoring your pressure until we deem it safe.
How soon will I see better? Many patients notice clearer vision within hours to a day or two.
What drops will I use at home? We prescribe a steroid drop the day of your procedure. You use it 4 times a day for 7 days, counting the day after your laser as day 1.
Are there restrictions after the procedure? No. You can return to your normal activities.
Can I drive after the procedure? Most patients can drive themselves home. Because the eye being treated is dilated, bring a driver if you do not feel comfortable driving that way.
When is my follow-up visit? Patients typically return for a follow-up visit 1 to 2 weeks after the laser.
Will the cloudiness come back? Once the capsule is opened, the haze does not return in the same way, so most patients need only one treatment per eye.
Is the cataract growing back? No. Your natural cataract was removed and does not grow back. A secondary cataract is a film on the membrane that holds your lens implant.
Do you treat patients whose cataract surgery was done elsewhere? Yes. We evaluate and treat patients regardless of where their cataract surgery was performed.
Can both eyes be treated on the same day? No. We treat one eye at a time. If your second eye meets the criteria for treatment, it is typically scheduled about one week later.
Is YAG laser capsulotomy covered by insurance? Yes, it is an insurance-covered procedure. Your out-of-pocket costs depend on your policy, so we check each patient’s coverage. Call (210) 485-1488 or see the plans we accept.
How long after cataract surgery does a cloudy capsule develop? It can appear months to years later. Not everyone develops it.
This page is for general education and isn’t a substitute for an exam. Only an eye doctor can tell whether your blurry vision is caused by a cloudy capsule.