title: Long-term changes in subfoveal choroidal thickness and central macula thickness after Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate changes in central macula thickness (CMT), subfoveal choroid thickness (SCT), and intraocular pressure (IOP) before and after neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser capsulotomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  42 eyes of 42 patients who underwent Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy were included in this prospective study. CMT, SCT, and IOP were evaluated preoperatively and at postoperative week 1 and postoperative months 1, 3, 6, and 12.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CMT was 238.1 ± 27.6 μm (mean ± SD) preoperatively, then 239.7 ± 29.8, 241.3 ± 28.7, 242.7 ± 27.2, 238.8 ± 23.7, and 238.3 ± 21.7 μm at postoperative week 1 and months 1, 3, 6, and 12, respectively. SCT was 263.3 ± 21.6 μm preoperatively, and 265.5 ± 24.8, 266.2 ± 25.7, 267.1 ± 26.3, 269.1 ± 24.2, and 269.9 ± 21.4 μm at postoperative week 1 and months 1, 3, 6, and 12, respectively. There were no significant differences between preoperative and postoperative results for CMT, SCT, or IOP (all p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although there were slight changes in choroid thickness in the long term, treatment of posterior capsule opacification with a low-energy Nd:YAG laser is a safe procedure that increases visual acuity without creating a significant increase in IOP, CMT, and SCT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Beyoglu Eye Research and Education Hospital, Beyoglu, Istanbul, Turkey. dr.tolgayilmaz@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Tolga
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Bagcilar Education and Research Hospital, Bagcilar, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002829:Choroid / Q000473:pathology*; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000601:surgery*; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000473:pathology*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000009:adverse effects; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods
keywords: Choroidal neovascularization; Macular degeneration; Optical coherence tomography; Yag laser