Predicting posterior capsule opacification: value of early retroillumination imaging.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the value of early retroillumination imaging of the posterior capsule in predicting the eventual development of posterior capsule opacification (PCO).


METHODS
Ophthalmology Department, St. Thomas' Hospital, and Department of Physics, King's College, London, United Kingdom.


METHODS
All patients with retroillumination images of the posterior capsule taken 6 months and 2 years after uneventful phacoemulsification with in-the-bag intraocular lens (IOL) implantation were selected. The images were taken using the same hardware and analyzed with the same software to calculate the percentage area of the posterior capsule covered by lens epithelial cells. The percentage area of PCO with all IOL types 6 months postoperatively was correlated with that at 2 years.


RESULTS
One hundred forty patients had analyzable images at 6 months and 2 years. Of these, 63 had a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) IOL (Pharmacia 812A or Storz P497UV), 33 an acrylic (Alcon AcrySof MA30 or SA30), 22 a silicone (Allergan SI-30), and 22 a hydrophilic acrylic (Bausch & Lomb Hydroview H60). The correlation of the percentage area of PCO at 6 months with that at 2 years resulted in an r value of 0.71 (P <.0001) in the entire group. The r value was 0.48 in the PMMA group and 0.86 in the foldable IOL group (P <.0001) (r value: AcrySof, 0.66; silicone, 0.82; Hydroview, 0.75).


CONCLUSIONS
Retroillumination imaging of the posterior capsule 6 months after cataract surgery predicted the PCO outcome at 2 years in eyes with foldable IOLs.
Bender
Lloyd E
LE
St. Thomas' Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
Spalton
David J
DJ
Meacock
William
W
Jose
Romina
R
Boyce
James
J
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002386:Cataract / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology*; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D008029:Lighting / Q000379:methods*; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012826:Silicone Elastomers
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D012826:Silicone Elastomers; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate