Intraoperative miotics and posterior capsular opacification following phacoemulsification with intraocular lens insertion.
OBJECTIVE
Posterior capsular opacification (PCO) is a frequent complication following phacoemulsification with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. A series of consecutive patients receiving capsular bag-fixated, silicone IOL implants were assessed for both incidence of PCO and the administration of intraoperative miotics.


METHODS
During a 5-year period, 477 consecutive eyes were retrospectively evaluated. Surgeries were grouped according to intraoperative miotic agent: 0.01% carbachol or 1.0% acetylcholine. Patients receiving no miotic drug served as a control group. Yttrium-aluminum-garnet (YAG) laser posterior capsulotomy was performed on patients with clinically significant PCO.


RESULTS
The percentage of eyes requiring YAG laser capsulotomy was similar for the three groups: 21.6% (25 of 91) for the carbachol group, 18.4% (14 of 62) for the acetylcholine group, and 18.6% (53 of 232) for the control group. A chi-squared analysis indicated that the difference among the groups was not statistically significant. The three groups also had similar average follow-up times between surgery and YAG capsulotomy (carbachol group = 52.2 weeks, acetylcholine group = 47.5 weeks, and control group = 48.3 weeks).


CONCLUSIONS
Intraocular miotics do not increase the incidence of PCO.
Phillips
B
B
John A. Moran Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City 84132, USA.
Crandall
A S
AS
Mamalis
N
N
Olson
R J
RJ
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000287:Administration, Topical; D002217:Carbachol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D002386:Cataract / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008916:Miotics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D008916:Miotics; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D002217:Carbachol; D000109:Acetylcholine