Temporal changes in posterior capsulotomy dimensions following neodymium:YAG laser discission

We prospectively evaluated 20 eyes of 19 consecutive patients to determine the nature of temporal changes in posterior capsulotomy size, shape, and contour six weeks following neodymium:YAG laser posterior capsular disruption. Mean capsulotomy area increased by 32% (range 0 to 134%, P less than .05, Student t-test), although mean capsulotomy perimeter did not change appreciably. Capsular enlargement tended toward sphericity over time, with smoothing of edge contour from capsular tag retraction. Remodeling of opening size, shape, and contour was most likely to occur with preoperative evidence of capsular traction, and highly irregular capsulotomy borders immediately post-discission.