The effects of posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis on contrast sensitivity.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed at evaluating the effects of posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (PCCC) on contrast sensitivity.


METHODS
In this prospective, randomized, bilateral clinical study, 40 eyes of 20 patients who underwent bilateral cataract surgery were included. The phacoemulsification machine, viscoelastic substances, surgical tools, and intraocular lenses (IOLs) were the same for both eyes. The only difference was that we conducted the PCCC procedure before IOL implantation to one of the eyes of the patients. The selection of the eye that underwent the PCCC procedure was decided randomly.


RESULTS
The mean photopic contrast sensitivity values at spatial frequencies of 1.5, 3, 6, 12, and 18 cpd (cycles per degree) were 41.55, 59.90, 61.25, 32.35, and 9.75, respectively, and for the control group these values were 39.05, 56.60, 57.95, 29.80, and 8.75, respectively. The mean mesopic contrast sensitivity values at special frequencies of 1.5, 3, 6, 12, and 18 cpd were 41.20, 54.75, 55.55, 31.70, and 9.00, respectively, and for the control group these values were 38.35, 51.70, 52.15, 30.05, and 8.00, respectively. The mean contrast sensitivity values of the eyes that underwent the PCCC procedure were slightly better than the fellow eyes at all spatial frequencies, but the difference was statistically insignificant (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
In early post-operative period, the PCCC procedure exerts some positive effects on contrast sensitivity although these effects are statistically insignificant.
Bozkurt
E
E
Department of Ophthalmology, Beyoglu Eye Research and Training Hospital, Beyoglu, Istanbul, Turkey.
Yazici
A T
AT
Pekel
G
G
Pekel
E
E
Bayraktar
S
S
Yilmaz
O F
OF
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019923:Capsulorhexis / Q000379:methods*; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000379:methods; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies