POSTERIOR CAPSULORHEXIS IN ADULTS

Purpose To evaluate the feasibility and the risks of posterior capsulo rhexis. Material and methods Retrospective analysis of 504 cases opera ted by phacoemulsification or manual extracapsular cataract extraction with a circular posterior capsulectomy. These cataracts were due to a ge or of unknown etiology. We analysed the intraoperative and postoper ative complications. Fluorescein angiography was performed in a sample of unselected cases. Results The intraoperative complications consist ed in 5 uncontrolled tearing and 7 prolapses of vitreous (4 of the 7 o nly in the posterior capsulectomy). Eleven of these twelve incidents o ccurred in case of positive posterior pressure. In the postoperative p eriod 3 additional prolapses of the vitreous in the pupil were observe d; two of these capsulorhexis had been made larger than the optic of t he intraocular lens. Three eyes with 25.79; 34.69 and 26.3 mm axial le ngth presented a retinal detachment. Among 49 cases submitted to fluor escein angiography, 3 showed cystoid macular edema. Conclusions Poster ior capsulorhexis would be feasible in the cataract-implant surgery in adults, except in case of positive pressure. The diameter of the caps ulorhexis has to be smaller to the diameter of the intraocular lens op tic.