Posterior Capsule Opacification after Cataract Surgery and its Determinants

Purpose: A review of posterior capsule opacification (PCO) after cataract surgery and some affecting factors Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed to study cataract patients who underwent cataract surgery between 2003 and 2006 in Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Random sampling was done. Those with a history of uveitis, intraocular surgery, and eye trauma were excluded from the study. The patients were then invited for follow-up visits and study of the results. Postsurgical PCO percentage was calculated, and its association with variables like sex, age, history of cataract surgery, type of surgery, and type of lens was studied. Results: The incidence of PCO in patients was 14.2% (11.3 to 17.0 CI=95%) with an incidence of 8.7% and 19.9% in males and females, respectively (P<0.001). PCO was not significantly correlated with age. The incidence of PCO in those who had undergone cataract surgery at least one year ago was 10.9% while it was 22.7% in those who had received surgery at least 4 years ago (P=0.005). PCO incidence in those with and without partial opacity was 31% and 13.2%, respectively (P=0.011). The highest and lowest incidence of PCO belonged to those who were operated on with small incision cataract surgery (SICS) and phacoemulsification techniques, respectively (P=0.009). The incidence of PCO was 24.2% and 12% in cases in whom PMMA and foldable lenses were used, respectively (P=0.002). Of those with PCO after cataract surgery, 31.6% (21.5 to 41.8 CI=95%) needed Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy. Conclusion: In our study, the incidence of PCO after cataract surgery was relatively low with a higher incidence in females. Preoperative corneal opacity, surgical technique and the lens type can be factors affecting the incidence of PCO.