EFFECT OF CAPSULORHEXIS DIAMETER ON GLARE DISABILITY

Purpose: To determine whether the diameter of the anterior capsulorhex is has an effect on postoperative glare. Setting: Sapir Medical Center , Meir Hospital, Kfar Saba, Israel. Methods: Forty patients had extrac apsular cataract extraction (manual or phacoemulsification) through an intact continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC) of various sizes. T he CCC diameter was measured and the opacity of the anterior and poste rior capsules was evaluated before and after dilation of the pupils. G lare test (Miller-Nadler glare tester) was performed with the eyelid i n a normal position and after lid elevation. Results: The diameter of the CCC ranged from 3.50 to 7.00 mm (mean 4.87 mm). The anterior capsu le was always opaque in the area of contact with the IOL material. Non e was graded clear; 60% were graded as +3. Mean glare disability prior to pupil dilation was 12.1 +/- 8.8 (SD) and after dilation, 17.3 +/- 9.7. There was no correlation between glare disability and the diamete r of the capsulorhexis, the width of the exposed opacified capsular ri ng, or the grading of capsule opacification (anterior and posterior). Dilation of the pupil significantly increased glare disability (P = .0 16), unrelated to CCC diameter. Conclusion: A CCC larger than 3.5 mm d oes not induce significant glare.