Visual results and complications of posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation after capsular tear during phacoemulsification.

BACKGROUND AND

OBJECTIVE

To determine the visual outcome and complications of posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation after capsular tear in patients undergoing phacoemulsification at Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Istanbul, Turkey.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

The medical records of patients who underwent phacoemulsification surgery for senile cataract from January 1, 1996, to December 31, 1998, were reviewed. Patient inclusion criteria were implantation of a posterior chamber intraocular lens after phacoemulsification, being operated on by one of two surgeons, and a follow-up of at least 1 year. There were 58 eyes in the group with capsular tear and 159 eyes in the group with intact capsule.

RESULTS

A final visual acuity of 0.8 or more was more common in eyes with uncomplicated phacoemulsification surgery (chi-square = 16.25, P = .03). Refraction stabilized most commonly at 2 to 6 months postoperatively in patients with capsular tear and 1 to 21 days postoperatively in patients with uncomplicated phacoemulsification (chi-square = 22.61, P < .001). Complications such as retinal detachment (odds ratio = 11.70, P < .05), cystoid macular edema (odds ratio = 26.33, P < .01), increased intraocular pressure (odds ratio = 14.54, P < .05), and decentration of the intraocular lens (odds ratio = 32.79, P = .001) were more frequently observed in eyes with capsular tear.

CONCLUSIONS

It takes longer for the refraction to stabilize in eyes with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation after capsular tear during phacoemulsification. Complications such as retinal detachment, cystoid macular edema, increased intraocular pressure, and decentration of the intraocular lens are more common in these patients, and therefore they should be observed for a longer period of time.