Lens injury following iridotomy with a Q-switched neodymium-YAG laser

By scanning electron microscopy, we studied eight lenses from eyes that had received a neodymium-YAG laser iridotomy one day prior to elective intracapsular cataract extraction. In some of these cases, pitting lesions were found on the anterior-equatorial lens surface, thereby showing that lenticular damage may occur following this procedure if the iridotomy is applied too centrally. It is recommended that care be taken to ensure that the iridotomy be placed at a site peripheral to the outer circumference of the lens.