title: Capsular opening contraction after continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis and intraocular lens implantation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the progressive constriction of the anterior capsule opening that can occur after continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  Changes in the anterior capsule opening after CCC were evaluated in 166 pseudophakic eyes at 1 week and 1 and 3 months postoperatively. The capsular opening diameter was measured with an image analysis system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The capsular opening diameter was reduced by an average of 13.87% 3 months after CCC. There was more dense opacity in the anterior than in the posterior capsule. Lens epithelial cells (LECs) were the main cause of capsule contraction; sex, age, intraocular lens haptic length and haptic material, and CCC size did not have a statistically significant effect on capsule shrinkage (P > .05). Three months after surgery, most eyes with an initial capsular opening diameter of less than 5.5 mm had an opening diameter smaller than 5.0 mm. In most eyes with an initial capsular opening larger than 5.5 mm, the opening remained larger than 5.0 mm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that the ideal CCC size is 5.5 to 6.0 mm or larger and that LEC removal is necessary to preserve the pupillary zone and thus prevent progressive capsular opening shrinkage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Catholic University Medical College, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002386:Cataract / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D003286:Contracture / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies