Abstract:

Objective: To investigate the changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) and corneal endothelial morphology in neodymium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd: YAG) laser capsulotomy cases in the early period after the procedure. Material and Methods: Seventy four eyes of 58 patients with posterior capsular opacification were included in the study. The baseline IOP of the patients was compared to the first hour and first-month values after Nd: YAG laser capsulotomy. Also, endothelial cell density (ECD), coefficient of variation (CV), hexagonality rate (HEX), and central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements were analyzed by specular microscopy and compared. Results: Mean age of the patients was 66.84±9.51 years. Mean IOP value was similar at pre-laser and post-laser first hour and first month (p=0.361 and p=0.516, respectively). Mean ECD was significantly decreased at the first hour (1968.31±465.27 cells/mm2) and the first month (1984.72±453.55 cells/mm2) after laser compared to pre-laser (2025.73±470.18 cells/mm2), (p=0.001 and p=0.021, respectively). There was no significant difference between the mean CV, HEX, and CCT values before laser, at the first hour and first month after laser (p>0.05). There was no significant correlation between corneal endothelial loss and total laser energy power at the first hour and first month (r=- 0.046, p=0.699 and r=0.134, p=0.257, respectively). Conclusion: No significant IOP increase was observed after Nd: YAG laser capsulotomy. Not all patients need to use anti-glaucomatous therapy after the procedure. A decrease in the number of corneal endothelial cells was seen after laser. Therefore, this procedure should be applied more carefully in patients with low corneal endothelium count.

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