A Long-term Evaluation of Single-piece Hydrophobic Acrylic Intraocular Lens Implantation on the Development of Posterior Capsule Opacification

Although contemporary cataract surgery has made tremendous strides in technological advancement, posterior capsular opacification (PCO) is still the most frequent long-term complication leading to decreased visual functions and thereby dissatisfying results. A great deal of effort has been made to develop new ways to prevent the formation of PCO. A key factor, widely discussed in literature, is the material and design of the intraocular lense (IOL) edge that can lead to PCO prevention. It is still not clear whether the sharp-edged IOL produces less PCO because of its optic geometry alone or whether the biomaterial contributes to the inhibition of PCO. With the clinical introduction of the single-piece acrylic hydrophobic IOLs with some optic and haptic design differences compared with three-piece acrylic hydrophobic IOLs, it has become possible to determine the influence of IOL material and design on PCO prevention. It is well established that the development of PCO is a dynamic process and that a longer follow-up time is correlated with a higher degree of PCO. So far, there have been prospective clinical studies on the clinical results of single and three-piece acrylic hydrophobic foldable IOLs. However, the question as to as to whether the PCO further increases or becomes stable or regresses on a long-term basis has not yet been answered. Since there is paucity of available literature that prospectively evaluates the development of PCO with the implantation of the single-piece SN60AT hydrophobic acrylic IOL on a long-term basis, the investigators decided to observe the degree of development of PCO at 5 years after cataract surgery.