The effect of Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy size on refraction and visual acuity.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy size on refraction and visual acuity.


METHODS
A total of 128 pseudophakic eyes (108 patients) were included in this study and divided into two groups by capsulotomy size: 80 eyes had small capsulotomies (<4 mm) without dilating the pupil and 48 eyes had large capsulotomies (> or = 4 mm and <7 mm) after dilating the pupil. Visual acuities and refractive errors were measured preoperatively and 1, 14, 30, and 90 days postoperatively. Results were analyzed statistically.


RESULTS
The change in spherical equivalent refraction was 0.38 +/- 0.52 diopters (D) in the small capsulotomy group and 0.22 +/- 0.36 D in the large capsulotomy group. No statistically significant differences were noted in spherical equivalent refraction change (P=.47) or capsulotomy size (P=.0387) between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The size of posterior capsulotomy does not significantly affect refraction and visual acuity.
Yilmaz
Safiye
S
Department of Ophthalmology, Izmir Atatürk Training and Research Hospital, Turkey. safiyekucukbay@hotmail.com
Ozdil
Mehmet Ali
MA
Bozkir
Naci
N
Maden
Ahmet
A
D002386:Cataract / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D019591:Pseudophakia / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012029:Refraction, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*