Photodynamic therapy could serve as a promising approach to prevent posterior capsular opacification

Posterior capsular opacification (PCO) causes the vision that has been restored after cataract surgery to become blurred again. YAG laser treatment for PCO not only incurs additional costs but also poses risks of complications, including glaucoma and retinal disorders. Effective prevention and management of PCO remain an area requiring active research. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) utilizes a photosensitizer (PS) to transform oxygen into reactive oxygen species (ROS) under specific wavelengths of light, thereby inducing apoptosis. Given its minimal invasiveness and high specificity, PDT has been extensively applied in the treatment of conditions characterized by abnormal cell proliferation, such as tumors. Considering the pathogenesis of PCO, PDT has demonstrated promising clinical application potential in ophthalmic disease treatment. This review examines the impact of photodynamic therapy on the biological behavior of lens epithelial cells (LECs) and its efficacy in treating PCO. It also discusses the advantages and disadvantages of different photosensitizers and their clinical application potential.