Posterior capsule opacification and neodymium: YAG capsulotomy rates with AcrySof acrylic and PhacoFlex II silicone intraocular lenses.

Purpose: To compare the incidence and severity of posterior capsule opacification (PCO) and neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG) capsulotomy rates between AcrySof(R) MA30BA acrylic (Alcon) and PhacoFlex(R) II SI-40NB silicone (AMO) intraocular lenses (IOLs).

Setting: Outpatient Cataract Surgery Center, TLC Eyecare and Laser Center, Jackson, Michigan, USA.

Methods: AcrySof and PhacoFlex II IOLs were implanted in fellow eyes of 156 patients requiring bilateral cataract extraction. The patients were followed for a mean of approximately 3 years for the incidence and severity of PCO and the Nd:YAG capsulotomy rates.

Results: Of the 63 eyes that were free of PCO throughout the study, 42 had the AcrySof IOL and 21 had the PhacoFlex II IOL. Of eyes that developed PCO, the mean severity in the AcrySof group was 16% less than that in the PhacoFlex II group. Of the 50 eyes that had an Nd:YAG capsulotomy, 17 were in the AcrySof group and 33 were in the PhacoFlex II group. All differences between groups were statistically significant (P<.05).

Conclusion: The AcrySof MA30BA IOL was associated with less PCO proliferation and thus fewer Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomies than the PhacoFlex II SI-40NB IOL.