YAG Laser Capsulotomy Day 1: What to Expect

Day 1 is usually the day the cloudiness lifts. An AAO ophthalmologist answering a patient question writes that a capsulotomy will usually improve vision by the next day, and that by the next morning most of his patients notice an improvement. The AAO's patient page puts the fuller improvement at about 48 hours for people with no other eye problems, so treat day 1 as a good sign rather than a deadline.

The dilating drops from yesterday should have worn off by now, so light should feel less harsh and near vision should focus again. New floaters are the most common day 1 complaint. Tiny fragments of the opened capsule can drift in the gel inside the eye, and an AAO ophthalmologist notes that seeing some floaters in the first week is normal.

Some offices recheck eye pressure the day after the laser, especially for people with glaucoma. The AAO's clinical guidance describes giving a pressure-lowering drop right after treatment and rechecking pressure at 1 to 4 hours, then about a week later, because a temporary pressure rise of more than 10 mmHg is reported in roughly 15 to 67 percent of eyes. If you were given drops, keep using them on schedule.