Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment after neodymium-YAG laser capsulotomy in phakic and pseudophakic eyes

A retrospective study of 18 eyes in 17 patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachments after neodymium-YAG laser posterior capsulotomy was performed to determine operative settings and to describe anatomic changes after the procedure in an effort to assess their relationship to subsequent retinal detachment. The laser energy required to create a capsulotomy did not appear to be excessive and the capsulotomy openings were not unusually large. The time between YAG capsulotomy and diagnosis of retinal detachment ranged from four to 82 weeks (mean, 28 weeks). The characteristics of the retinal detachments were similar to those after routine cataract extraction. Retinal reattachment surgery was ultimately successful in all 18 eyes. Both YAG laser and knife-needle posterior capsulotomies may increase the risk of subsequent rhegmatogenous retinal detachment as a result of opening the capsule.