Effect of anterior and posterior capsular polishing on the rate of posterior capsule opacification

Session Details

Session Title: PCO

Session Date/Time: Monday 15/09/2014 | 14:30-16:00

Paper Time: 14:30

Venue: Capital Hall B

First Author: : A.Kurt TURKEY

Co Author(s): :    C. Caglar   A. Gul   K. Turkyilmaz   S. Mutlu     

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To analyze whether anterior and posterior capsule polishing after lens cortex cleaning done by phacoemulsification has any effect on the rate of posterior capsule opacification (PCO).

Setting:

The Maya Private Eye Hospital, Kayseri.

Methods:

The medical records of patients who underwent cataract extraction by phacoemulsification between January 2010 and January 2011 were reviewed. The study included 587 eyes of 587 patients who underwent phacoemulsification with foldable hydrophilic IOL in the bag implantation. Patients were divided into two groups. The anterior capsule and posterior capsule polishing procedure after lens cortex cleaning was carried out in 271 patients (Group 1) and not carried out in 316 patients (Group 2). They were evaluated at 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months post-operatively. Posterior capsule was evaluated on biomicroscopy by the method of retroillumination technique by one ophthalmologist. In PCO assessment opacities in the centre 3 mm area are taken into consideration. The difference between the two groups in terms of age were evaluated by Student's t test for statistical analysis. Statistical differences between Group 1 and Group 2 patients in terms of PCO development, gender distribution and whether there is a statistically significant difference between PCO development and identification duration between the two groups was evaluated by chi-square test. (p <0.05 was considered as a significant difference).

Results:

The mean ages were 65.33±13.90 (18-93) in group 1 and 67.32±11.72 (22-95) in group 2. There were no statistical differences in mean age, gender and total length between two groups. PCO was developed in 9 of 271 patients (3.3%) in group 1 and in 39 patients of 316 (12.3%) in Group 2. The difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). When development time of PCO was considered, there was no statistical difference in both groups.

Conclusions:

Our study showed that PCO rate decreased statistically significantly in patients who underwent anterior and posterior polishing during cataract surgery. As a result, the anterior capsule (containing equator) and posterior capsule polishing significantly reduces the rate of PCO development although it extends the duration of the surgery. The risk of PCO and complications related to YAG-Laser capsulotomy will be decreased through this simple procedure. Polishing the anterior and posterior capsule after lens cortex cleaning had significant role in preventing capsuler opacification.

Financial Interest:

NONE