Effect of the laser ridge on posterior capsule opacification

The most common complication of extracapsular cataract extraction is posterior capsule opacification, which appears to result from the proliferation of anterior lens epithelium onto the posterior capsule. The presence of a posterior chamber intraocular lens has been shown to decrease the incidence of posterior capsule opacification, possibly by a barrier mechanism. This retrospective clinical study compares the effect of two different lens designs (with and without a laser ridge) on posterior capsule opacification requiring Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy. Twenty-one of 101 patients (20.8%) with nonridged lenses required Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomies versus 13 of 86 patients (15.1%) with ridged lenses. Although these data showed a clinical benefit from using a ridged lens, no statistical difference in the incidence of posterior capsulotomy was noted. Further evaluation of capsular-optic surface apposition is needed.