POSTERIOR CAPSULE OPACIFICATION FOLLOWING DIABETIC EXTRACAPSULAR CATARACT-EXTRACTION

Review was performed of extracapsular cataract extraction with posteri or chamber lens implantation in 90 diabetic patients and 263 non-diabe tic patients. There was a higher incidence of posterior capsular opaci fication as judged by the requirement for Nd:YAG posterior capsulotomy in patients with non-proliferative (12/35, 34%) or quiescent prolifer ative diabetic retinopathy (8/18, 44%) than in non-diabetic patients ( 48/263, 18%) (Mantel-Haenszel p = 0.04). Although subgroup analysis sh owed a higher incidence of posterior capsule opacification in diabetic s with non-proliferative or quiescent proliferative retinopathy than i n diabetics without retinopathy, this was not statistically significan t (Mantel-Haenszel p = 0.19 and p = 0.07, respectively). Following cat aract surgery in diabetics with retinopathy, frequent review and promp t management of posterior capsular opacification is recommended, to ma intain adequate fundus visualisation at a time when deterioration of r etinopathy is likely.