Knife versus neodymium:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy: a one-year follow-up.

To study the effectiveness of the neodymium:YAG laser for secondary posterior capsulotomy, 100 limbal needle-knife discissions were compared to 100 YAG discissions. After a one-year follow-up, the "post-knife" and "post-YAG" visual acuities were compared to (1) the prediscission vision, and (2) the best vision achieved following cataract surgery prior to posterior capsule opacification. Additional comparisons rated the relative "success" of the two procedures in producing improved visual acuity. When compared to best post-cataract vision, the results at one year showed knife discission to be a success in 94.6% of all cases; the YAG, in 80% of all cases. When patients with preexisting pathology were eliminated from the comparison (there was a higher percentage of preexisting pathology in the YAG group), the knife discissions were successful in 98.5% of the cases, the YAG in 84.6%. The patients in the knife group also recovered their best visual acuity more promptly and completely than did those in the YAG group and had a lower incidence of complications.