As the Centre of Eye Excellence, we deliver YAG laser treatment with precision and care - restoring clarity in minutes.
YAG Laser
Treatment
YAG laser treatment is a medical procedure used for treating various eye conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration. It uses a high-intensity beam of light to precisely remove or reshape tissue in the eye, effectively treating the eye condition.
YAG laser
Price List
FROM
Initial Consultation
Treatment
Pre-Assessment
Main Treatment
Aftercare
Guide Price
Included
Included
Included
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Included
£790
What is YAG laser treatment?
YAG Laser Treatment (YAG) stands for 'yttrium aluminium garnet', and is the crystal used in a laser as the 'lasing medium'.
At Sana, we use YAG laser capsulotomy to treat a condition called posterior capsule opacification (PCO), which can develop after a lens implant procedure.
PCO, sometimes called 'after-cataract', occurs when a cloudy layer of scar tissue forms behind your lens implant. It is a simple procedure that is performed commonly and which is very safe.
In a YAG laser capsulotomy, we use a special lens to apply a laser beam to the lens membrane to create a small hole in its centre, which allows light into the eye. It will restore the quality of vision that you had after lens replacement surgery and is a safe, non-invasive procedure.
YAG laser capsulotomy treatment is completely painless. It should only take around ten minutes to be performed. We will put eye drops into your eye to make the pupil big, along with an anaesthetic eye drop so that the surface of your eye is numb and feels no pain. After you have been given eye drops, we will put a special contact lens on your eye which allows us to view the capsule (lens membrane) clearly.
You will then sit with your chin resting on a machine which is very similar to the one used in your routine eye examination, but which has a special laser attached. The laser beam is then applied to make a small hole in the capsule and clear your vision.
Around an hour afterwards, we will need to check your eye pressure and examine the eye to check the hole in the capsule.
In some cases, you may be given eye drops or tablets after the procedure to help support your recovery.
YAG laser capsulotomy
Lens replacement surgery, used for cataract surgery is very safe and has a very high rate of success.
However, we expect that around 10% of lens replacement patients may develop a condition called posterior capsule opacification (PCO) within two years of having the surgery.
When your lens replacement was performed, the new lens will have been placed inside the lens membrane where your natural lens used to be. This membrane is called a bag or capsule. For some patients, this capsule can thicken after surgery and become cloudy.
The effect that this has on vision is that it may look as if the cataract is coming back, or that you’re looking through frosted glass. You could also get glare from lights at night time or if you are in bright light. YAG laser capsulotomy is the only way to treat PCO.
YAG laser peripheral iridotomy is a procedure used to treat or prevent a type of glaucoma known as angle-closure glaucoma. It involves using a precise laser to create a small opening in the outer edge of the iris (the coloured part of the eye), helping fluid drain more easily from the eye and reducing pressure.
The laser creates a tiny hole in the peripheral iris, allowing aqueous fluid to flow freely between the front and back chambers of the eye. This helps to equalise pressure, prevent fluid buildup, and reduce the risk of sudden pressure spikes that can lead to serious vision loss. The procedure is quick, usually takes just a few minutes, and is done in an outpatient setting with minimal discomfort.
YAG laser peripheral
iridotomy
We also use YAG laser peripheral iridotomy as a treatment for glaucoma patients who have angle closure. Angle closure means that fluid cannot circulate through the eye properly, leading to increased pressure in the eye.
Complications after this treatment are uncommon, and the treatment is painless due to the anaesthetic drop used to numb your eye.
In a healthy eye, the fluid called aqueous humour flows freely into the front of your eye, through the pupil, and then drains away through channels called the trabecular meshwork. In some eyes, these drainage channels do not function properly. The build-up of fluid means your eye pressure (called intraocular pressure) increases, damaging your vision.
We use YAG selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) to apply a laser beam to the drainage channels, which helps to unblock them. The fluid in your eye can then flow through the channels more easily, which reduces the pressure in your eye.
First, we will examine your eye and check the pressure. Next, we will put drops into your eye to make the pupil smaller along with an anaesthetic, so that the surface of your eye is numb and feels no pain. We will use another drop which will protect your eye from any spikes in pressure.
The treatment will take around twenty minutes and will be painless. You may experience slight discomfort when the laser is being applied. If you normally use any eye medication, you must continue to do so on the day of your laser treatment unless you have been advised not to.
YAG
selective laser trabeculoplasty
At Sana, we use YAG selective laser trabeculoplasty to treat angle closure glaucoma. Angle closure is a condition that obstructs the natural drainage channels in your eye and causes the pressure in your eye to rise.
Frequently Asked Questions
No — the treatment is painless due to the anaesthetic drops used to numb your eye beforehand.
The amount of time your laser eye surgery will take depends on a few factors, such as the type of procedure you are having. YAG laser capsulotomy treatment should only take around ten minutes to be performed, while YAG laser peripheral iridotomy and YAG selective laser trabeculoplasty take around twenty minutes.
All YAG procedures are quick, painless and low risk.