Primary posterior capsulotomy in adults with posterior capsule opacification.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of primary posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (PCCC) in adult patients with cataract.

SETTING: Zagazig University Hospital, Ash-Sharkya, Egypt.

DESIGN: Prospective nonrandomized case series.

METHODS: This study comprised patients with senile cataract who had phacoemulsification. All patients had a dense posterior capsule opacification (PCO) discovered intraoperatively. Primary PCCC was performed to remove the residual opacification after posterior capsule polishing. All patients were followed for 3 months postoperatively. The outcome measures were corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), macular edema detected by optical coherence tomography, and the occurrence of intraoperative or postoperative complications.

RESULTS: Twenty-five eyes of 25 cataract patients had phacoemulsification. The mean age was 61.9 years ± 7.5 (SD). The mean CDVA preoperatively was 0.14 ± 0.08 and postoperatively it was 0.86 ± 0.15 at 1 week, 0.93 ± 0.08 at 1 month, and 0.94 ± 0.08 at 3 months (P = .001). The mean central macular thickness was 313.16 ± 8.39 μm preoperatively and 315.04 ± 10.6 μm, 319.88 ± 26.06 μm, and 316.4 ± 13.7 μm at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively, respectively (P = .35). Posterior capsule opening contracture occurred in 1 eye (4%), although it did not affect the patient's vision. Intraoperative posterior capsule extension occurred in 1 eye (4%). No serious complications, such as retinal detachment or endophthalmitis, were detected in any patient.

CONCLUSION: Cataract surgery with primary PCCC was a safe procedure to treat residual PCO in adults and had a low rate of complications.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: Neither author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.