Intraindividual comparative analysis of capsule opacification after implantation of 2 single-piece hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lenses models: Three-year follow-up.

Purpose: To compare the 3-year postoperative anterior (ACO) and posterior (PCO) capsule opacification and the level of anterior capsule retraction after implantation of 2 single-piece hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lens (IOL) models.

Setting: Hospital of St. John of God, Vienna, Austria.

Design: Comparative randomized controlled double-blind clinical trial.

Methods: Eyes with bilateral cataract were evaluated. Each patient had an Acrysof SA60AT (interrupted optic edge) IOL implanted in 1 eye (Group A) and a Tecnis ZCB00 (continuous optic edge) IOL implanted in the fellow eye (Group B). One and 3 years postoperatively, PCO was evaluated using Evaluation of Posterior Capsule Opacification software and the ACO level and capsule-retraction level were evaluated and graded subjectively.

Results: The study evaluated 100 eyes of 50 patients ranging from 61 to 80 years. Postoperatively, there were no statistically significant differences in PCO between Group A and Group B at 1 year (0.06 ± 0.12 [SD] and 0.07 ± 0.13, respectively; P = 4.35) or 3 years (0.23 ± 0.36 and 0.22 ± 0.32, respectively; P = .66). In Group A and Group B, ACO was present in 18.0% of eyes and 2.7% of eyes, respectively, at 1 year (P = .03) and in 92.0% and 24.0%, respectively, at 3 years (P < .01). Capsule phimosis (18.0% at 1 year; 30.0% at 3 years) and glistenings (66.0% at 1 year; 86.0% at 3 years) were observed in Group A only.

Conclusion: Both IOLs had similarly low PCO rates 3 years postoperatively, although more ACO and capsule retraction were observed in eyes with the interrupted optic edge IOL.