Lysis of vitreous strands with neodymium: YAG laser.

Eighteen eyes with vitreous strands adherent to the corneoscleral wounds of previous cataract surgery were treated with neodymium: YAG laser to lyse those strands. Twelve eyes were treated for management of cystoid macular edema (CME group); six eyes were treated for prophylaxis of possible CME (prophylactic group). In the CME group, visual acuity improved two or more lines in nine eyes (75.0%), and seven eyes had a post laser visual acuity of 0.5 or better (One eye had a pre-treatment visual acuity of 0.5 or better). In the prophylactic group, visual acuity was either maintained at the pre-treatment visual acuity of 0.5 or better. In the prophylactic group, visual acuity was either maintained at the pre-treatment level or improved in five eyes (83.3%) 18 months later following laser treatment. This procedure was complicated by retinal detachment in one case and the elevation of intraocular pressure over 10 mmHg in another case.