Assessment of intra-operative techniques to prevent visual axis opacification in congenital cataract surgery

• Published in: Archivos de la Sociedad Española de Oftalmología (English ed.) 2012-10, Vol.87 (10), p.315-319
• Main Authors: Borghol-Kassar, R, Menezo-Rozalén, J.L, Harto-Castaño, M.A, Desco-Esteban, M.C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anterior vitrectomy; Capsulorrexis posterior circular continua; Cataratas congénitas; Congenital cataracts; Opacificación eje visual; Ophthalmology; Posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis; Visual axis opacification; Vitrectomía anterior
• ISSN: 2173-5794; 2173-5794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.oftale.2012.01.001

Abstract Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of various surgical procedures in the management of posterior capsule and anterior vitreous for the prevention of visual axis opacification. Subjects, material and methods We retrospectively reviewed 120 eyes operated for unilateral congenital cataracts, with a median age at the time of cataract surgery of 21 months (interquartile range, 6–52 months). The eyes were divided into 3 groups: group 1 (eyes with intact posterior capsule, n = 39), group 2 (eyes with posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis, n = 38), group 3 (eyes with posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis and anterior vitrectomy, n = 43). Results To determine the effect of posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis on visual axis opacification we compared group 2 with group 1 (chi-square Pearson test, P =.281), therefore in this study the implementation of the posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis did not show any decrease in the incidence of visual axis opacification. To study the effect of posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis associated anterior vitrectomy, we compared group 3 with group 1 (chi-square Pearson test, P =.014), demonstrating that the combination of both techniques (posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis and anterior vitrectomy) decreases the incidence of visual axis opacification. Conclusion Posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis as a single technique did not show any decrease in the incidence of visual axis opacification. Posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis together with anterior vitrectomy is required to prevent visual axis opacification and to decrease reoperation rate.