Posterior capsule opacification after combined cataract surgery and vitrectomy

To compare the degree of posterior capsule opacification (PCO) after combined cataract surgery and vitrectomy and after cataract surgery alone in age-matched control patients and in patients with and without diabetes mellitus (DM).

Sugita Eye Hospital, Nagoya, Japan.

In a prospective study, patients were divided into 2 groups: those having cataract surgery alone (cataract group) and those having combined cataract and vitrectomy surgery (combined group). The 2 groups were further divided into patients without DM (non-DM subgroup) and patients with DM (DM subgroup). The PCO rates were determined 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery using the POCO system.

In the cataract group, the non-DM subgroup and the DM subgroup each comprised 42 eyes of 42 patients. In the combined group, the non-DM subgroup comprised 26 eyes of 26 patients and the DM subgroup, 23 eyes of 23 patients. In the cataract group, the PCO rate in the DM subgroup was significantly higher than in the non-DM subgroup at every postoperative examination (P<.05). In the non-DM subgroup, the PCO rate was significantly higher at every postoperative examination in patients having combined surgery than in patients having cataract surgery alone (P<.05). In the combined group, the PCO rate did not differ significantly between the non-DM subgroup and the DM subgroup.

Even patients without DM must be carefully monitored for PCO development after combined surgery.