Three-year study in patients with posterior capsular opacification

Abstract

Background: posterior capsular opacification is still the most frequent late postoperative complication after cataract surgery.Objective: to describe the results of the study of patients with posterior capsular opacification, attended to at “Guillermo Domínguez López” General Teaching Hospital from Puerto Padre, Las Tunas, from June 2013 to June 2016.Methods: an observational, descriptive and prospective study was carried out with a sample of 198 patients who developed posterior capsular opacification (PCO), out of a universe of 648 patients who were operated on for cataract with intraocular lens implant (IOL), at the institution and during the period herein mentioned.Results: most of the patients were 61 years of age and older, without an evident predominance of sex. The patients who developed posterior capsular opacification presented bad vision with optic correction, less than 20/60 (0.3). After the application of laser treatment an evident improvement of the visual acuity was corroborated, mainly present in first and second degree posterior capsular opacification. Temporary intraocular hypertension was the most frequent complication after treatment with Nd:YAG laser.Conclusions: the study described the patients who developed posterior capsular opacification.

Keywords

• ophthalmology
• cataract
• corneal opacity
• posterior capsule of the lens