[Phacoemulsification in posterior polar cataract]

To evaluate the technical particularities of phacoemulsification and the intraoperative complications in posterior polar cataract.

Prospective study which comprises 10 eyes with posterior polar cataract (8 patients), operated on between May 2001 and April 2004 in the ophthalmology department of the Military Hospital Cluj-Napoca, by the same surgeon. Phacoemulsification with low parameters was performed in all cases, and acrylic and PMMA intraocular lenses were implanted in 9 eyes.

The patients' age was between 24 and 80 years, with a mean age of 55.12 years. The majority of the patients presented bilateral posterior polar cataract (70%), but only 2 patients were operated on the both eyes in the analyzed period. The posterior capsule rupture occurred in 4 eyes (40%). A posterior residual plaque was attended in one case, but did not influence the short term visual acuity. The visual acuity of the 3 cases which were affected unilaterally was not influenced by the surgery, which was without complications in 2 cases. The causes were preexisting amblyopia.

The study confirms the high risk to posterior capsule rupture during posterior cataract surgery and the high incidence of the bilateral form (70%).