Posterior Capsule Opacification and Nd-YAG rates evaluation in a large series of pseudophakic cases

PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of Intraocular Lens (IOL) material and design on Posterior Capsule Opacification (PCO) and Neodymium-YAG (Nd-YAG) rates in eyes implanted with different Posterior Chamber Intraocular Lenses (PC IOLs) designs at the end of uncomplicated cataract surgeries. SETTING: Oculus Eye Clinic, Bucharest, Romania. DESIGN: Retrospective, observational study. METHODS: This study comprised 4805 eyes operated for cataract in 2012 and 2013 with a post-operative average follow up of 40 ± 6,15 months (27-54 months). The PCO and Nd-YAG rates were recorded and compared among different IOL materials and designs and among different pathology groups. RESULTS: From 4805 IOLs implanted, 2560 (53,27%) were hydrophilic and 2245 (45,73%) hydrophobic, 2937 (61%) were aspherical and 1868 (39%) spherical. We found statistical significant differences in the PCO and Nd-YAG rates between hydrophilic (18% and 14% respectively) and hydrophobic lenses (4% and 2% respectively) (p<0.0001). There were also statistically significant differences in the sub-group of hydrophilic aspheric IOLs, finding lower PCO and Nd:YAG rates with the C-loop haptics configuration (12,6% and 3,3% respectively) compared with the broad optic/ haptic junction (29,75% and 24,73% respectively) (p<0.001). No statistically significant differences on PCO and Nd:YAG rates were found for the different associated pathologies (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Hydrophilic lenses showed statistically higher PCO and Nd:YAG rates than hydrophobic lenses. In contrast, the optic asphericity and the associated pathologies had no influence on the PCO and Nd:YAG rates. IOL design and material seem to be the main characteristics influencing PCO and Nd-YAG rates. ABBREVIATIONS: LECs = lens epithelial cells.