[Postoperative cataract following intraocular lenses with and without laser ridge]

In this randomized, prospective clinical study, a convex plane intraocular lens (IOL) with a laser ridge was compared with a convex plane IOL without a laser ridge. No difference was found in the reduction of capsular opacification 1 year after surgery. The 100 patients (40 males/60 females) with senescent cataracts were treated with ECCE by a single surgeon from November 1986 to March 1987. The operative technique consisted of capsulorhexis, irrigation-aspiration and in-the-bag-implantation. The first group of 50 patients (50 eyes) had an IOL without a laser ridge and the second group an IOL with a laser ridge. When considering after-cataracts in combination with minor visual deterioration we had secondary cataract rate of 15% in the IOL group with a laser ridge and of 16% in the IOL group without a laser ridge. When we considered only the cases in which visual acuity worsened and YAG laser capsulotomy was required, the secondary cataract rate was 1.5%.