Influence of the quality of viscoelastic removal on phacoemulsification results. Part 2. Dependence of “IOL – posterior lens capsule” interface status on viscoelastic visualization

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Main methods of intraoperative secondary cataract prevention are measures aimed at the formation of full contact of the intraocular lens (IOL) with the posterior capsule. The diastasis between the IOL and the posterior capsule is explained by the presence of viscoelastic in the interface. Maximum visualization of the stained viscoelastic will obviously make it possible to completely remove it from the eye, which will increase the number of eyes with the optimal IOL posterior capsule interface with standard phacoemulsification.
 AIM: The aim was to study IOL posterior capsule interface status after phacoemulsification of senile cataract in relation to viscoelastic visualization.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: 122 eyes of 122 patients were included, which underwent phacoemulsification of senile cataract with femto-laser assistance and were divided into 2 groups depending on viscoelastic characteristic (colored or transparent) used for anterior chamber filling prior to IOL implantation. IOL posterior capsule interface status was examined on the 1st and 7th day post-op in order to evaluate the contact between two structures.
 RESULTS: On the 1st day post-op, the absence of contact between IOL and posterior capsule was noticed more often in the second group, the number of eyes with this type of interface was 1.5 times lower in the 1st group. On the 7th day after surgery, optimal interface had place in 9 out of 10 eyes in the 1st group, in comparison with 2/3 of patients from the second group.
 CONCLUSION: Conducted investigation showed that the use of colored viscoelastic allowed creating the optimal IOL posterior capsule interface on the 7th day post-op in 87% of eyes of the main group in comparison with 67% eyes from the control group (the difference is statistically significant). The absence of contact between IOL and capsule can be considered as relative capsule block, which may form the high risk of secondary cataract.