title: The effect of Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy size on refraction and visual acuity.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Izmir Atatürk Training and Research Hospital, Turkey. safiyekucukbay@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Safiye
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Mehmet Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ozdil
authors.forename: Naci
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bozkir
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maden
mesh_terms: 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*