Ultrasound biomicroscopy examination of intraocular lens haptic position after phacoemulsification with continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis and extracapsular cataract extraction with linear capsulotomy

Purpose: Intraocular lens (IOL) haptic position in 35 eyes that had undergo ne cataract surgery was examined with ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM). Methods: In a prospective randomized study the patients were operated by ph acoemulsification using continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC) (group I ) or by extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) using linear capsulotomy ( group LI), Ultrasound biomicroscopy was used to localize both haptics of th e implanted intraocular lenses and to measure anterior chamber depth (ACD), iris thickness and anterior chamber angle. The inflammatory reaction in th e anterior chamber was assessed with laser flare photometry, Slit lamp exam ination was performed. Results: Both IOL haptics were found in the lens capsule in all 18 eyes in group I. In group II one of the haptics was located out of the capsule in 7 of 17 eyes (41%). The difference is statistically significant (p=0.01). Po stoperatively mean ACD measured with the UBM was 4.06+/-0.30 mm in group I and 3.64+/-0.24 mm in group II (p=0.00025). Conclusion: The UBM examinations indicate that phacoemulsification with con tinuous curvilinear capsulorhexis is a more reliable technique than ECCE,vi th linear capsulotomy to achieve implantation of the intraocular lens hapti cs in the capsular bag.