Elapsed time for capsular apposition to intraocular lens after cataract surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To examine when the anterior and posterior lens capsule completely become apposed to optics of silicone and acrylic intraocular lenses (IOLs) implanted after cataract surgery and to determine whether the different IOL materials influence the timing of completion of capsular contact.


METHODS
Randomized controlled clinical trial.


METHODS
Seventy eyes of 70 patients who were scheduled to undergo cataract surgery were randomly assigned to two groups using random number tables based on the type of IOL implanted: silicone or acrylic. Thirty-two patients in each group completed the follow-up.


METHODS
All eyes underwent phacoemulsification surgery with implantation of either a silicone or acrylic IOL. All IOLs were accurately placed into the capsular bag.


METHODS
Contact of the anterior and posterior lens capsule with the IOL optic surface was evaluated using the Scheimpflug videophotography system at 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 14, 21, and 28 days after surgery. The postoperative day at which each capsule was completely apposed to the IOL optic was determined. In addition, anterior chamber depth was also measured.


RESULTS
The anterior capsule was in contact with the IOL optic on the same day or earlier than the posterior capsule in all patients. Complete apposition of the IOL was observed significantly earlier with silicone IOLs than with acrylic IOLs with both the anterior capsule (6.2 versus 3.6 postoperative days; P < 0.0001) and the posterior capsule (11.1 versus 7.4 postoperative days; P = 0.0339). No significant change in mean anterior chamber depth was observed with the silicone IOL, whereas there was significant anterior shift after implantation of the acrylic IOL.


CONCLUSIONS
Capsular contact with the IOL optic is completed within approximately 8 days after cataract surgery with silicone IOLs and 11 days with acrylic IOLs. Complete apposition to both the anterior and posterior capsule was significantly earlier with silicone IOLs than with acrylic IOLs.
Hayashi
Hideyuki
H
Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Japan.
Hayashi
Ken
K
Nakao
Fuminori
F
Hayashi
Fumihiko
F
D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000268:Adhesiveness; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D019923:Capsulorhexis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000378:metabolism*; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D010781:Photography; D012826:Silicone Elastomers / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D012826:Silicone Elastomers