Posterior capsule opacification with AcrySof and poly(methyl methacrylate)intraocular lenses - Comparative study with a 3-year follow-up

Purpose. To evaluate whether reports of reduced posterior capsule opacifica tion (PCO) rates with AcrySof (R) intraocular lenses (IOLs) are applicable to a mixed group of cataract patients in everyday surgical practice. Setting. Department of Ophthalmology, Karnsjukhuset, Skovde, Sweden. Methods. A retrospective study comparing a study group receiving an AcrySof IOL (n =, 145) and a group receiving a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) IO L (n = 153) was performed. The follow-up was 3 years in both groups. The pe rformance of a neodymium:YAG laser capsulotomy was used as the end point fo r clinically significant PCO. Results. Nine capsulotomies (6.2%) were performed in the AcrySof group and 34 (22.2%) in the PMMA group. The difference in the capsulotomy rate betwee n the 2 groups was highly significant (P < .001). The relative risk was 3.6 times higher in the PMMA group. Conclusions: There was a significant difference in the frequency of capsulo tomy between AcrySof and PMMA IOLs in a mixed group of cataract patients in everyday clinical practice. This finding indicates the importance of the I OL type in PCO formation. (C) 2001 ASCRS and ESCRS.