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.