Analysis of the need for secondary capsulotomy during a five-year follow-up.

From 783 consecutive extracapsular cataract extractions with intact posterior capsules at the close of surgery, 655 eyes were available for examination three years after surgery and 447 eyes were available five years after surgery. By five years postoperatively, the need for secondary capsulotomy was 49% of 67 eyes that had not received an implant, 23% of 159 eyes that had received a Binkhorst iridocapsular lens, and 13% of 221 eyes that had received a posterior chamber lens. Among posterior chamber lenses, the surface area of the implant was considered to be a more important factor in inhibiting capsule opacification than posterior vaulting of the lens. Posterior vaulting was associated with a lower incidence of epithelialization but a higher incidence of capsular fibrosis. A small subgroup of 19 glaucoma triple procedures examined at three years showed a significantly higher incidence of capsulotomy (21.0%) than the other 369 posterior chamber lens implantations examined at three years (6.8%).