Long-term study of the prevalence of capsular opacification following extracapsular cataract extraction

The prevalence of capsular opacification was studied in a group of patients who had extracapsular cataract extraction from 1978 to 1980 by one surgeon. In 94 eyes the follow-up was longer than four years. Capsular opacification developed in 41% of these eyes. In 72% of the eyes with opacification the diagnosis was made more than two years after surgery. In the patients who were operated on during 1980, capsular opacification appeared later and less frequently than in those operated on during 1978. Although the difference was not statistically significant, it probably reflects improved technique and more meticulous cleaning of residual cortex. Patients younger than 40 years had a higher prevalence of capsular opacification (70%) than those older than 40 years (37%). Pseudophakic and aphakic patients had a similar prevalence--47.6% and 39.7%, respectively.