SILICONE VERSUS POLYMETHYLMETHACRYLATE INTRAOCULAR LENSES WITH REGARDTO CAPSULAR OPACIFICATION

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The authors conducted a 3-year randomized tr ial to compare silicone intraocular lenses (IOLs) with polymethylmetha crylate (PMMA) IOLs, to determine any differences in laser capsulotomy rates, capsular opacification light scatter, and subjective scoring. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 119 patients were enrolled, 84 of who m were examined at 3 years. The authors designed a prospective, masked , and randomized trial to compare the objective (lens opacity meter), subjective (slit-lamp scoring), and clinical parameters of the posteri or capsular opacification (PCO) of these patients. RESULTS: The silico ne group had less PCO than the PMMA group, according to objective (8.6 % vs. 10.4%; P = .02, Student's t test) and subjective scoring (0.88 v s. 1.79; P = .0001, Student's t test). The laser capsulotomy rate was 24% for the silicone group and 33% for the PMMA group; however, this d ifference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The silicone IOL was associated with less PCO than the PMMA IOL.