The Clinical Characteristics of Stress Line and the Corrleation with Diabetes Mellitus

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To find the incidence of the stress line, its mechanism, the clinical features and the relationship with diabetes mellitus, and to compare with the results of the other studies. METHODS: A prospective study with 60 consecutive eyes of the 51 patients who had phacoemulsification with IOL (Alcon AcrySof Model MA60BM in 20 eyes and Allergan Sensar Model AR40 in 40 eyes) implantation from October 2002 to March 2003. The presence of stress lines was noted at the end of the operation and at the first and second months after the operation. The linear posterior capsular opacifications(PCOs) were noted during the average 6-month follow-up period. RESULTS: Stress lines were observed 40 eyes (66.6%) among the total 60 eyes. Among the 19 diabetic eyes, 15 (78.9%) had the stress lines. The stress lines were significantly related with the hardness (P = 0.109) and PCO (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The stress lines didn't influence vision but could be channels to the PCO having an effect on vision. Especially, among the diabetic eyes, stress lines had a significant relationship with the PCOs.