Scheimpflug photography and postcataract surgery posterior capsule opacification

We describe a method to objectively document postcataract surgery posterior capsule opacification using Zeiss Scheimpflug photography and computerized image analysis. We examined 42 eyes with clear capsules (group A) and 27 with posterior capsule opacities (group B). The group A eyes had significantly better visual acuity (P < .05), lower mean capsular densitometry readings (0.03 +/- 0.03 optical density units versus 0.15 +/- 0.11 optical density units; P < .0001), and thinner capsules (0.03 +/- 0.4 mm versus 0.10 +/- 0.05 mm) than the group B eyes. This new objective method of documenting postoperative capsular haze may be useful for clinical studies such as clinical trials of drugs or surgical techniques being developed to prevent or minimize capsule opacification.