title: Posterior capsular opacification in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome: a long-term perspective.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare posterior capsular opacification in patients with and without pseudoexfoliation syndrome 6-7 years following surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four eyes of 44 patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome who underwent cataract surgery with phacoemulsification in 2001 and 2002 were available for follow-up in 2008. These patients were compared to 86 age- and gender-matched patients (86 eyes) without pseudoexfoliation syndrome who had surgery during the same time period. Posterior capsule opacification was assessed using digital retroillumination photography. The images were analysed with a software program (POCOman) to determine the extent and severity of the capsular opacification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Percentage and severity of posterior capsular opacification within the central 4.0 and 1.3 mm of the optical zone were compared in eyes with and without pseudoexfoliation syndrome. Neither of these results were statistically significant. Before the re-examination in 2008, neodymium:yttrium-aluminium-garnet laser posterior capsulotomy had been conducted in 16% (n = 7) of eyes with pseudoexfoliation syndrome, as well as in 16% (n = 14) of eyes without pseudoexfoliation syndrome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study indicates that, with phacoemulsification, development of long-term posterior capsular opacification is not increased in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome after uncomplicated cataract surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. uxatst@ous-hf.no
authors.forename: Atle E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Østern
authors.forename: Marit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saethre
authors.forename: Gunhild
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sandvik
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Råen
authors.forename: Liv
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Drolsum
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D058442:Capsule Opacification / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D002386:Cataract / Q000150:complications; D017889:Exfoliation Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D010781:Photography; D057852:Posterior Capsule of the Lens / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery