Anterior capsule contraction and intraocular lens dislocation in eyes withpseudoexfoliation syndrome

Aims - To examine the extent of anterior capsule contraction as well as int raocular lens (IOL) decentration and tilt following implant surgery in eyes with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PE). Methods - 53 eyes from 53 patients with PE and 53 control eyes from 53 age matched patients, undergoing phacoemulsification and implant surgery, were recruited. The anterior capsule opening area and the amounts of IOL decentr ation and tilt after undergoing continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis were m easured using the Scheimpflug videophotography system at 1 week and 1, 3, 6 , 9, and 12 months postoperatively. Results - The mean area of the anterior capsule opening in the PE group was significantly smaller than that in the control group at 1 month postoperat ively and later. The percentage reductions in the PE group were approximate ly 25%, while they were less than 10% in the control group. The degree of I OL tilt was also larger in the PE group than in the control group. Five eye s (9.4%) in the PE group underwent a neodymium:YAG laser anterior capsuloto my, but none in the control group underwent a capsulotomy. Conclusions - The contraction of the anterior capsule opening was more exte nsive in the PE eyes than in the control eyes, thus resulting in a high Nd: YAG laser anterior capsulotomy rate. The IOL tilt was also greater in the P E eyes than in the control eyes.