PCO and IOL

Posterior capsular opacification is still the most important and frequent complication in modern cataract surgery. Intraocular lens itself (not only material but also shape) is one of the important factors for the prevention of P.C.O. developing. In this retrospective study, we evaluated five kinds of intraocular lenses. First one is AMO silicone lenses almost 4000 cases. Second one is AMO 3 pieces acrylate lenses 3000 cases. Third one is Alcon 3 pieces acrylate lenses 4000 cases. The fourth one is Alcon single piece acrylate lenses 3000 cases and the last one is OII hydrophilic acrylate lenses 3000 cases. All operations were performed by a same surgeon and follow-up period was 2 years after operation. We checked posterior capsular opacification rates and degrees and measured posterior capsulotomy rates using Nd-YAG laser. And also we evaluated anterior capsule opacity and contracture. We performed anterior capsule relaxing incision using Nd-YAG laser in cases of less than 4mm diameter of anterior capsular opening. The posterior capsulotomy rates using ND-YAG laser were approximately 9.0% in AMO silicone IOLs (SI 40NB) group, 3.7% in the AMO acrylate IOLs (sensar AR40) group, 3.3% in the 3-piece Alcon Acrysof IOLs (MA60BM) group and 2.5% in the single piece Alcon Acrysof IOLs (SA60AT) group and 4.2% in OII hydrophilic acrylate IOLs (Aqua-sense) group at 2 years after operation. Silicone IOLs showed relatively much higher rates of posterior capsule opacification compare to acrylate IOLs. Especially, silicone IOLs evoked fibrotic type posterior capsular opacification in more than 50% of total cases.