Argon laser debridement of the posterior capsule: a potential treatment for posterior capsule opacification after extracapsular cataract surgery.

We treated an opacified membrane on the anterior surfaces of the posterior capsule of two cynomolgus monkeys that had undergone extracapsular cataract extraction and intraocular lens insertion. After development of opacification of the posterior capsule, argon laser energy was employed in an attempt to debride the capsules while maintaining structural integrity of the capsule. With this technique, small areas of destruction of the membrane on the anterior surface of the posterior capsule were created with preservation of the capsule.