Posterior capsule opacification with AcrySof and poly(methyl methacrylate) intraocular lenses

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether reports of reduced posterior capsule opacification (PCO) rates with AcrySof intraocular lenses (IOLs) are applicable to a mixed group of cataract patients in everyday surgical practice. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Kärnsjukhuset, Skövde, Sweden. METHODS: A retrospective study comparing a study group receiving an AcrySof IOL (n = 145) and a group receiving a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) IOL (n = 153) was performed. The follow-up was 3 years in both groups. The performance of a neodymium:YAG laser capsulotomy was used as the end point for clinically significant PCO. RESULTS: Nine capsulotomies (6.2%) were performed in the AcrySof group and 34 (22.2%) in the PMMA group. The difference in the capsulotomy rate between the 2 groups was highly significant (P <.001). The relative risk was 3.6 times higher in the PMMA group. CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant difference in the frequency of capsulotomy between AcrySof and PMMA IOLs in a mixed group of cataract patients in everyday clinical practice. This finding indicates the importance of the IOL type in PCO formation.