OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY OF THE VITREOLENTICULAR INTERFACE AFTER PHACOEMULSIFICATION WITH PRIMARY POSTERIOR CAPSULORHEXIS

Abstract

The discussion about the safety and efficiency of the posterior capsulorhexis is still ongoing. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) can help us to study the process of capsule barrier recovering and condition of the anterior hyaloid membrane after primary posterior capsulorhexis. Aim of the study was to investigate the features of the vitreolenticular interface (VLI) after lens surgery with the primary posterior capsulorhexis.Material and methods. VLI OCT (RTVue, «Optovue», USA) was performed in 101 patients (123 eyes) after phacoemulsification with primary posterior capsulorexis. The postoperative period ranged from 1 day to 9 years.Results. We revealed a large variability of the VLI. This was due to the degree of the involutional changes in the involved structures. In the early postoperative period we observed the different variants of the relationships between the posterior capsule and the intraocular lens (IOL): from almost contact to subtotal inadhesion with a movable margin of the capsulorhexis. However, in all cases we noted the contact between posterior capsule and IOL along the optical edge of the latter. In the following days the adhesion between the lens optics and the posterior capsule progressed from the periphery to the center. The term needed for complete adhesion was 1-8 days. Three main types of VLI have been identified in the late postoperative period.Conclusion. The involutional changes of structures determine the features of the VLI in the early and late postoperative period. The contact between posterior capsule and IOL along the lens optics edge was detected from the first day, full adhesion was noted 1–8 days after surgery.

Keywords

• primary posterior capsulorhexis
• vitreolenticular interface
• anterior hyaloid membrane
• phacoemulsification