A Study of Factors Influencing After Cataract Development

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study was performed in order to elucidate how the patient s age at cataract operation, coexisting systemic or other ocular diseases, cataract operation methods, and implanted intraocular lenses(IOLs) are associated with the after-cataract development. METHODS: The sixty-eight patients (87 eyes) which had undergone Nd-YAG capsulotomy at the Kangnam St. Mary s Hospital were studied with chart review retrospectively. All the cases had phacoemulsification, continous curvilinear capsulorhexis(CCC), and posterior chamber IOL implantation in the capsular bag. RESULTS: With regard to patient s age factor at cataract operation, the older patient, the more slowly did after-cataract develop. There is less development of after-cataracts that have no contact between anterior capsulectomy site and posterior capsule (36 eyes,41%) than have any contact (51 eyes, 59%). After-cataracts could be classified into Elschnig pearl type (51 eyes, 59%) and fibrous type (36 eyes, 41%), and fibrous type is especially few in those having no contact between anterior capsulectomy site and posterior capsule (P=0.0303). Foldable IOLs (including silicone, acrylic) have more fibrous type after-cataract (16 eyes of 29 eyes), on the contrary, polymethyl methacrylate(PMMA) IOLs have more Elschnig pearl type after-cataract. CONCLUSION: Through this study, we understand that patient s age and contact between anterior capsulectomy site and posterior capsule are the factors which can influence after-cataract development and type. However, there is no statistically significant difference between IOL and after-cataract type (P=0.0647).