EFFECT OF NEODYMIUM-YAG LASER POSTERIOR CAPSULOTOMY ON CORNEAL GRAFTS

Patients undergoing neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser p osterior capsulotomy for posterior capsular opacification after penetr ating keratoplasty were reviewed retrospectively for incidence of graf t rejection. All patients underwent extracapsular cataract extraction with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation (PC-IOL) performe d as a separate or combined procedure. Only one of 20 eyes (4.7%) of 2 0 patients developed corneal graft rejection over a follow-up period o f 6 months to 6 years after capsulotomy. Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy does not appear to increase the risk of corneal graft rejection.