Visual outcome following posterior capsule rupture during cataract surgery.

AIM To determine the relative risk of a poor visual outcome following posterior capsule rupture during cataract surgery. METHODS Prospective data were collected on consecutive eyes undergoing cataract extraction. The patient's age, preoperative visual acuity, ocular comorbidity, grade of surgeon, and operative complications were documented. The best spectacle corrected visual acuity was recorded at discharge from the hospital service. RESULTS From a total of 1533 cases, 1420 (92.6%) eyes had complete follow up data. Posterior capsule rupture occurred in 59 (4.1%) cases. Eyes with posterior capsule rupture were 3.8 times more likely to have a final best spectacle corrected visual acuity less than 6/12. CONCLUSIONS Eyes having posterior capsule rupture during cataract surgery have a significant risk of reduced visual acuity.