A COMPARISION OF POSTERIOR CAPSULAR OPACITY FORMATION UPTO 1 YEAR IN PATIENTS WITH SMALL INCISION CATARACT SURGERY WITH FOLDABLE INTRAOCULAR LENS AND PHACOEMULSIFICATION WITH THE SAME INTRAOCULAR LENS

Abstract

Introduction: Cataract is most common cause of curable blindness worldwide and cataract surgery is most common procedure performed in ophthalmology. Posterior capsular opacification (PCO) is most common complication after cataract surgery which is usually treated with Neodymium-doped: Yttrium Garnet (Nd:YAG) laser posterior capsulotomy or occasionally with a surgical capsulotomy. The incidence and severity of PCO correlates to the type of surgical technique, IOL optic edge designs and IOL materials. Material and Methods: 70 eyes of 64 patients operated for age related cataract were studied in this prospective interventional study. Phacoemulsification was done in 35 eyes and SICS in 35 eyes with hydrophobic single piece biconvex foldable intraocular lens. Patients were followed up at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months for the development of PCO. Clinically significant PCO (loss of 2 or more lines of Snellen’s visual acuity chart) was treated with Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy. Results: The overall incidence of PCO was 22.85%. Amongst the patients who developed PCO, SICS and phacoemulsification was performed in 62.5% and 37.5% patients respectively. Result was statistically significant with p value <0.05 using z test. On first postoperative day, patients operated with phacoemulsification had better visual acuity than SICS. Conclusion: Phacoemulsification can provide early and better visual outcome than SICS and has lower incidence of PCO formation which may be due to difference in irrigation and aspiration and less disruption of blood aqueous barrier than SICS. PCO can be reduced by atraumatic surgery and thorough cortical clean up and capsular polishing.