Comparison of the Effect of Hydrophobic Acrylic and Silicone 3-piece IOLs on Posterior Capsule Opacification

Age-related cataract is the main cause of impaired vision in the elderly population worldwide.

The only treatment that can restore functional visual ability is cataract surgery where the opacified crystalline lens is removed by phacoemulsification and an artificial intraocular lens is implanted into the remaining capsular bag. Cataract operations are generally very successful, with a low risk of serious complications.

The most common reason for impaired vision after uneventful cataract surgery in otherwise healthy eyes is the development of posterior capsule opacification (PCO). PCO is a physiological change (thickening, opacification and clouding) of the capsular bag expected after cataract surgery, because the lens epithelial cells (LECs) undergo hyperplasia and cellular migration. PCO is treated with Nd:YAG capsulotomy, a quick outpatient procedure that uses a laser to open a central hole in the posterior capsular bag.

Modifications in IOL design and material lead to a decrease in the incidence of PCO.

During the past two decades, refinements in surgical technique were made resulting in today's small incision phacoemulsification surgery. Nowadays a multitude of microincision IOLs are available, many of them similar but of course with some differences in regard to the chemical composition of the acrylic material and the IOL design.

The purpose of this study is to compare the development of posterior capsule opacification (PCO) and the frequency of treatment between two different microincision IOLs over a period of 2 years.