NDYAG SWEEPING - AN INDIRECT TECHNIQUE FOR CLEARING INTRAOCULAR-LENS DEPOSITS

Corticosteroid-resistant deposits on the anterior surface of intraocul ar lenses (IOLs) in 11 patients who had complained of poor vision were ''swept'' with a Neodymium:YAG laser beam. As contrasted with previou s ''direct hit'' methods, our method is indirect, using a low-power, d efocused beam to generate an acoustic shock-wave, which then sweeps th e lens surface clear of deposits. The deposits were cleared in all 11 patients, with no damage to the IOL or any other postlaser complicatio ns. Improvement in visual acuity ranged from 1 to 3 lines, and all the patients reported alleviation of symptoms.