NHS YAG Capsulotomy

At Optegra, our expert ophthalmic surgeons provide YAG laser capsulotomy for NHS patients across our nationwide eye hospitals. This short, pain-free laser procedure clears the clouding of the posterior lens capsule that can develop after cataract surgery, restoring your vision quickly and safely.

What is YAG Laser Capsulotomy?

A YAG laser capsulotomy is a quick, non-invasive procedure that uses a precision laser to clear the capsule, allowing light to reach the back of your eye once more.

Watch our short video to learn more about YAG laser capsulotomy.

What is YAG Capsulotomy?

How do I know if I need NHS YAG laser treatment?

Posterior capsular opacification (PCO) can develop months or years after cataract surgery. If you notice your sight becoming cloudy again, it may feel like your cataract has returned, – but this is a separate and easily treatable condition.

Common posterior capsule opacification symptoms include:

Blurred or hazy vision
Increased glare or halos around lights
Difficulty reading or driving
Faded colours or reduced contrast
Sensitivity to bright light

If you experience any of these symptoms, your optometrist or GP can refer you to Optegra for NHS YAG laser capsulotomy treatment.

What Happens During YAG Laser Capsulotomy?

YAG capsulotomy uses a sophisticated laser to remove the thickening. This facilitates light to pass through to the back of the eye to help you see clearly. YAG laser treatment lasts only a few minutes and involves no surgical cuts.

Here’s what to expect at your NHS appointment:

Referral: If you think, visit your local optician or GP who can refer you to Optegra for YAG treatment.
Consultation: You’ll see one of our consultant ophthalmic surgeons, who will assess your vision and confirm that YAG treatment is right for you.
Preparation: Eye drops are used to dilate your pupils and numb your eyes.
Laser treatment: The YAG laser creates a tiny opening in the cloudy capsule behind your lens to let light through again.
Quick recovery: The treatment takes around 5 minutes and is completely painless. However, we do advise patients to wait until the following day to resume normal activities.

Your Vision After YAG Laser Treatment

After the treatment is finished, your eyes may feel a little dazzled from the laser. Your vision will gradually return over a period of 5 to 10 minutes. Expect your vision to remain blurry for a few hours following treatment, from the dilating drops.

Most patients notice significant vision improvements within one day of the procedure.

Our NHS YAG Results

Optegra typically performs YAG laser capsulotomy on over 6,000 eyes each year. In the last year, 100% of patients reported zero operative complications and 99% reported zero post-operative complications.

NHS Waiting Times for YAG Laser Capsulotomy

We understand how frustrating cloudy vision can be. Optegra aims to keep NHS waiting times for YAG laser capsulotomy as short as possible.

While waiting times vary by region, patients referred to Optegra are often treated within a few weeks, faster than standard NHS hospital pathways.

Ask your optometrist to send your referral directly to Optegra for a faster, consultant-led appointment.

Why Choose Optegra for your NHS YAG Laser Treatment

Consultant-led care at every stage
Trusted NHS partner for cataract and YAG procedures
On average over 6,000 YAG treatments are performed each year
99% of patients report no post-operative complications
Treatment is available at all Optegra hospitals across the UK

How to Get Referred

If your vision has become cloudy after cataract surgery, speak to your optometrist or GP and request an NHS referral to Optegra for YAG laser capsulotomy.

We’ll arrange your consultation quickly and provide all the care, reassurance, and expertise you need for a clear outcome. Find your nearest Optegra hospital and contact us for more referral information.

YAG laser eye treatment FAQs

Usually, a YAG laser capsulotomy will only be required once. In case the cloudy membrane does not break on the first attempt, a second may be required. However, this is rare.

Most patients are fine to return to work the day following treatment.

Typically, it is fine to drive the day after your YAG laser treatment. It is advised not to drive on the day of your YAG laser treatment, because dilating drops will be applied which will blur your vision for a little while.

You may be required to apply drops for a few days after treatment to soothe any inflammation.

Yes, generally it is possible to have both eyes treated on the same day.

No, recovery is fast, and patients can go home shortly after the YAG treatment is complete.

As eye drops are applied your vision may be blurry for several hours after treatment. It’s therefore useful to bring a friend or family member along to your appointment, though not mandatory.

Stronger glasses may help partially however if the thickening is extreme this is unlikely to be of much use. In this event YAG laser capsulotomy is the only solution for vision restoration.

Typically, a thickened capsule will gradually worsen, having a negative impact on your vision over time.