Clinical Results of Primary Posterior Continuous Curvilinear Capsulorhexis

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcome of posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (PCCC) performed simultaneously with cataract surgery to inhibit after-cataract. METHODS: Among patients who underwent phacoemulsification and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation from December 1999 through December 2001, we had followed on 94 eyes of 80 patients who underwent PCCC intraoperatively and 100 eyes in 92 patients without PCCC as control group. Both groups were divided into 4 categories nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy(NPDR); uveitis; below 60 years without ocular and systemic disease; over 60 years without ocular and systemic disease. Preoperative and postoperative visual acuity and complications were analyzed from 6 months to 12 months. RESULTS: There was statistically no difference in the best corrected visual acuity at 6 months between PCCC and control group in all categories. Transient increase in the intraocular pressure was noted in 5 eyes (5%) of PCCC group and 3 eyes (3%) in control group. Vitreous prolapse into anterior chamber was found in 2 eyes (2%) of PCCC group. Cystoid macular edema was found in only 1 eye (1%) in NPDR patients of PCCC group. Progression of diabetic retinopathy was found in 1 eye (5.6%) and 3 eyes (12.5%) in each group respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in progression of diabetic retinopathy after surgery between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Primary PCCC is a safe procedure to perform in patient who has a predisposition to after-cataract.