[Capsular bag distention after implantation of foldable acrylic lenses]

Incomplete removal of the viscoelastic material during cataract surgery may lead to the early postoperative capsular block syndrome. In this retrospective case series, postoperative capsular bag distention after implantation of a foldable acrylic lens is reported and the sequelae are analyzed.

In a retrospective case series, 10 eyes of altogether 1674 eyes that underwent cataract surgery in the years 2001 and 2002 were identified with early postoperative capsular block syndrome. All 10 eyes had cataract removal with continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis, phacoemulsification and a foldable acrylic lens was placed in the capsular bag. In 4 of 10 eyes cataract extraction was combined with trabeculectomy. All patients had posterior Nd:YAG capsulotomy. Refraction was performed before and after capsulotomy.

Postoperative examination showed capsular bag distention in all eyes. The mean postoperative spherical equivalent was -3.9 +/- 1.6 Dpt. As the target refraction was -1.2 +/- 1.0 Dpt there was an average of -2.7 +/- 1.4 Dpt of induced myopia. A mild increase in postoperative anterior chamber inflammation was noted only in 1 patient and shallowing of the anterior chamber was observed in another patient. Posterior Nd:YAG capsulotomy was performed 4.5 +/- 4.3 months after surgery. The mean refractive shift after Nd:YAG capsulotomy was 1.9 +/- 1.9 Dpt.

Unexpected postoperative myopic correction was the main manifestation of capsular block syndrome in this series. Intraoperative use of miotics prohibiting optical control of complete viscoelastic removal may explain the high proportion of combined procedures. In the case of unexpected postoperative myopia the position of the intraocular lens within the bag should be checked and attention should be paid to possibly incompletely removed viscoelastic material.