EXTRACAPSULAR CATARACT-EXTRACTION IN DIABETIC EYES - THE ROLE OF YAG LASER CAPSULOTOMY

Cataract surgery may exacerbate preexisting diabetic retinopathy. Espe cially diabetics with active retinal neovascularisation are at high ri sk of rubeosis iridis after intracapsular cataract extraction. Thirty- five eyes previously treated with panretinal photocoagulation underwen t extracapsular cataract extraction with posterior chamber lens implan tation. Twenty-eight eyes with retinal neovascularisation required fur ther Argon laser PRP after surgery. Fourteen eyes required YAG-laser c apsulotomy. From the group of eyes without YAG-laser capsulotomy none developed neovascular glaucoma. From the YAG laser capsulotomy group s ix eyes developed rubeosis iridis and neovascular glaucoma. Our result s indicate that eyes in which PRP has been performed, have an excellen t prognosis after ECCE with posterior chamber lens implantation only i f YAG Laser posterior capsulotomy is not performed.