Three-dimensional assessment of posterior capsule–intraocular lens interaction with and without primary posterior capsulorrhexis: an intraindividual randomized trial

PURPOSE: To assess the morphologic and clinical features of posterior capsule-intraocular lens (IOL) interaction following cataract surgery with and without primary posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorrhexis (PPCCC) at a three-dimensional (3-D) level using Scheimpflug imaging. METHODS: This prospective intraindividual randomized comparative study comprised 56 patients (112 eyes) with age-related cataract who had bilateral cataract surgery and hydrophobic acrylic IOLs implantation. In randomized order, cataract surgery with PPCCC was performed in 1 eye (PPCCC group), and the posterior capsule was left intact in the fellow eye (NPCCC group). Scheimpflug imaging containing 25 images distributed in 360° was taken 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS: 46 patients completed 3 months follow-up. Posterior capsule–IOL interaction can be morphologically classified into two types including complete adhesion and floppy shape in PPCCC group, and six types including full area wave, full area flat, concentric ring wave, concentric ring flat, sector, and complete adhesion in NPCCC group. The adhesion index (AI), defined as the proportion of complete adhesion of posterior capsule–IOL in 25 cross-section tomograms, was 0.45 ± 0.45, 0.79 ± 0.37, 0.92 ± 0.26 and 1.00 ± 0.00 in PPCCC group, while 0.05 ± 0.18, 0.41 ± 0.47, 0.87 ± 0.34, and 0.96 ± 0.21 in NPCCC group at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month and 3 months postoperatively, respectively (p = 0.001, 0.001, 0.338 and 0.151). CONCLUSIONS: 3-D Scheimpflug imaging was favorable in observing of posterior capsule–IOL interaction. Faster posterior capsule adhesion to the IOL was found in PPCCC group than in NPCCC group.