POSTOPERATIVE COMPLICATIONS OF CAPSULORHEXIS

Capsulorhexis has become the preferred method of anterior capsulotomy, and untoward effects have not been frequently noted. Nevertheless, di stinct complications of continuous tear anterior capsulotomy are now r ecognized. These include capsular bag hyperdistention, shrinkage of th e anterior capsule opening with visual loss and/or intraocular lens de centration, and lens epithelial cell hyperproliferation on the posteri or lens capsule. The tatter has not been reported and may be associate d with reduction or closure of laser posterior capsulotomies in the fo rm of a ''string of pearls'' around the capsule opening. Current style s of capsular surgery and intraocular lens implantation in which the a nterior capsule edge overlaps the lens may be responsible for these ph enomena. Although altering the surgical methods may obscure these comp lications, eliminating the anterior subcapsular and equatorial lens ep ithelial cells is necessary to prevent capsule contraction and lens ep ithelial cell hyperproliferation.