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Clinical Trial
. 2004 Feb;88(2):182-5.
doi: 10.1136/bjo.2003.023580.

Posterior capsule opacification after implantation of a hydrogel intraocular lens

K Hayashi  1 , H Hayashi
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Posterior capsule opacification after implantation of a hydrogel intraocular lens

K Hayashi et al. Br J Ophthalmol. 2004 Feb.

Abstract

Aim: To compare the degree of posterior capsule opacification (PCO) in eyes with a hydrophilic hydrogel intraocular lens (IOL) with that in eyes with a hydrophobic acrylic IOL.

Methods: Ninety five patients underwent a hydrogel IOL implantation in one eye and an acrylic IOL implantation in the opposite eye. The PCO value of these patients was measured using the Scheimpflug videophotography system at 1, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months postoperatively. The rate of neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG) laser posterior capsulotomy and visual acuity were also evaluated.

Results: The mean PCO value in the hydrogel group increased significantly (p<0.0001), while that in the acrylic group did not show significant change. The PCO value in the hydrogel group was significantly greater than that in the acrylic group throughout the follow up period. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis determined that the Nd:YAG capsulotomy rate in the hydrogel group was significantly higher than that in the acrylic group (p<0.0001). Mean visual acuity in the hydrogel group decreased significantly with time (p<0.0001), and became significantly worse than that in the acrylic group at 18 and 24 months postoperatively.

Conclusion: Posterior capsule opacification in eyes with a hydrophilic hydrogel IOL is significantly more extensive than that in eyes with a hydrophobic acrylic IOL, and results in a significant impairment of visual acuity.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Chart of participant flow.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Changes in mean (SD) posterior capsule opacification (PCO) value in the hydrogel and acrylic IOL groups. The PCO value in the hydrogel group increased significantly, while the change in the PCO value was not significant in the acrylic group. The mean PCO value in the hydrogel IOL group was significantly greater than that in the acrylic group throughout follow up.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Kaplan-Meier survival plots of the two groups for eyes not requiring neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser posterior capsulotomy. The survival curve in the hydrogel group was significantly worse than that in the acrylic group (p<0.0001, Mantel-Cox log rank test).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Changes in mean (SD) visual acuity in the hydrogel and acrylic IOL groups. Mean visual acuity in the hydrogel group was worse than that in the acrylic group; this difference was significant at 18 and 24 months after surgery.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Retroillumination photographs showing the bilateral eyes of a representative patient at 24 months after surgery. In an eye with a hydrogel IOL (A), fibrosis of the anterior capsule along the capsulorrhexis margin is marked. A flat proliferation of lens fibre cells over the posterior capsule is noted. However, swelling of these cells is slight. In the opposite eye with an acrylic IOL (B), fibrosis of the anterior capsule is slight and the posterior capsule is completely clear.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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