Incidence and influence of posterior capsule striae on the development of posterior capsule opacification after 1-piece hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lens implantation.

PURPOSE

To determine the incidence of intraoperative posterior capsule striae after implantation of a 1-piece hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lens (IOL), study the clinical impact on the patients' vision, and assess whether the presence of posterior capsule striae increases the risk for posterior capsule opacification (PCO).

SETTING

Iladevi Cataract & IOL Research Centre, Ahmedabad, India.

DESIGN

Case-control study.

METHODS

Part 1 of this study evaluated consecutive adult eyes having cataract surgery performed using standardized techniques with in-the-bag 1-piece hydrophobic acrylic IOL implantation. Posterior capsule striae details were noted at the end of surgery. Part 2 was a case-control study comprising all patients with intraoperative striae and an age- and biometry-matched control group without striae, which was selected on a 1:1 ratio.

RESULTS

Intraoperative posterior capsule striae were observed in 68 (13.6%) of 500 eyes. A single stria was seen in 43 eyes [63.2%], and multiple striae were seen in 25 eyes [36.7%]). There was no significant difference in logMAR corrected distance visual acuity at baseline (P=.881) or at 3 years (P=.191) between cases and controls. At 3 years, there was no statistically significant between-group difference in the median Evaluation of Posterior Capsule Opacification score or area values in the capsulorhexis margin (P=.36 and P=.39, respectively) or in the central 3.0 mm optic area (P=.40 and P=.42, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The incidence of posterior capsule striae was 13.6%. Intraoperative striae did not influence visual acuity or the development of PCO at the 3-year follow-up.