Neodymium: YAG capsulotomy rates after phacoemulsification with silicone posterior chamber intraocular lenses

To retrospectively evaluate the incidence of neodymium: YAG (Nd:YAG) laser capsulotomies for posterior capsule opacification (PCO) in eyes receiving one of two types of capsular-bag-fixated silicone posterior chamber intraocular lenses (IOLs) over 7 years.

John Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City.

Four hundred eighty-eight eyes that had cataract extraction with a continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis and implantation of one of two kinds of silicone posterior chamber IOLs were evaluated to assess the incidence of PCO. One hundred thirty-nine received a one-piece, plate-type IOL (Staar) and 349, a three-piece, modified C-loop IOL (AMO).

With an average follow-up of 84.3 weeks in the Staar IOL group and 93.5 weeks in the AMO IOL group, the incidence of posterior Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy for PCO was 30.2% and 39.1%, respectively.

The incidence of Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy after phacoemulsification with implantation of a silicone posterior chamber IOL was still relatively high with long-term follow-up. Although the proportion of patients with a one-piece silicone IOL requiring Nd:YAG capsulotomy was less than that in the three-piece silicone IOL group, the difference was not statistically significant.