Hinged Capsulotomy – Does it Decrease Floaters After Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Laser Capsulotomy?

OBJECTIVES: The objective was to compare conventional circular yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) laser capsulotomy with hinged capsulotomy to manage posterior capsular opacification (PCO). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective, randomized clinical trial enrolled pseudophakic patients with visually significant posterior capsule opacification. Patients were randomized to undergo posterior YAG laser capsulotomy with either conventional circular technique or a new technique with an inferior hinge. At 1-month postoperatively, patients were asked if they had any annoying floaters and the responses were compared between groups. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 83 patients were enrolled. Forty-three patients underwent hinged posterior YAG capsulotomy and 40 patients underwent routine circular capsulotomy. At 1-month postoperatively, there was a statistically significant decrease in annoying floaters in the group that underwent circular capsulotomy (P = 0.02). There was no statistically significant association in the total energy delivered (P = 0.4) or the number of spots (P = 0.2) and patient perception of annoying floaters. CONCLUSION: Hinged YAG capsulotomy was effective at decreasing the rate of floaters in patients with PCO.