[Preoperative anterior capsulotomy using YAG laser in cataract extraction by the envelope method. Preliminary report]

The envelope technique was used in 50 patients with cataract. In 25 patients anterior capsulotomy was performed by YAG laser before surgery (in 5 persons 1 day, in the remaining 20 1 hour before operation). The sole complications connected with laser capsulotomy was the raise in the intraocular pressure in 2 patients. In these woman-patients the laser surgery was performed a day before operation. In all the patients in whom the cataract operation was preceded by laser capsulotomy the removal of the anterior capsule did not produce any difficulty. The experience obtained during the study enable to state that laser capsulotomy simplifies considerably the operation and in connection with the envelope technique diminishes to a minimum the possibility of postoperative complications.