When can I fly after YAG laser capsulotomy?

A YAG capsulotomy is different from the eye surgeries that come with real flying rules. There is no incision, no stitch, and nothing gas-filled placed inside the eye. The AAO states that there are typically no activity restrictions after a posterior capsulotomy, though it also asks you to check with your surgeon to be safe. That general statement is the closest thing to published guidance on travel.

The practical issues are timing rather than altitude. You should not fly on the day of the laser if you would be traveling alone, because your pupil is dilated and your vision is blurry for several hours. It is also worth staying in town long enough for whatever pressure check or retina check your ophthalmologist scheduled, since the AAO's clinical guidance describes checking eye pressure at 1 to 4 hours and again around a week after treatment.

The bigger travel question is what happens if something goes wrong far from home. Retinal detachment after capsulotomy is uncommon but is the complication that needs urgent care, and the AAO's clinical guidance puts the reported range at roughly 0.08 to 3.6 percent of eyes. If you are traveling somewhere with limited eye care, ask your surgeon whether they would rather see you first.