Two-year follow-up of posterior capsule opacification after implantation of a hydrophilic or hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lens.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate posterior capsule opacification (PCO) 2 years after cataract surgery following implantation of a hydrophilic or a hydrophobic single-piece acrylic intraocular lens (IOL) with a sharp edge.


METHODS
Phacoemulsification cataract surgery was performed in one eye of 120 patients with senile cataract in this prospective study. They were randomized to implantation of either a hydrophilic acrylic IOL (BL27; Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, NY, USA) or a hydrophobic acrylic IOL (AcrySof) SA60AT; Alcon Laboratories, Fort Worth, TX, USA). Two years after surgery, retroillumination images were obtained and PCO area and severity were evaluated using pocoman software. Best corrected visual acuity (VA) (both high-contrast [100%] and low-contrast [2.5%]), glare, laser flare and intraocular pressure were measured. Capsulotomy rates were recorded.


RESULTS
Patients implanted with the hydrophilic IOL had a greater percentage area and severity of PCO compared with patients with the hydrophobic IOL (p < 0.001). There was no difference in PCO between men and women in the hydrophilic group. However, in the hydrophobic group, women had significantly more PCO than men (p < 0.05). Patients with the hydrophobic acrylic IOL had better high- and low-contrast visual activity (VA) (p < 0.01) and less glare (p < 0.001) than those with a hydrophilic acrylic IOL. Of the patients with the hydrophilic IOL, 42% underwent capsulotomy, compared with 10% in the hydrophobic group (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Two years after surgery, patients with the SA60AT hydrophobic acrylic IOL had less PCO and better high- and low-contrast VA than patients with the BL27 hydrophilic acrylic IOL.
Kugelberg
Maria
M
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, St Erik's Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. maria.kugelberg@sankterik.se
Wejde
Gisela
G
Jayaram
Hari
H
Zetterström
Charlotta
C
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002386:Cataract / Q000209:etiology*; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D013997:Time Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
D000180:Acrylic Resins