Capsular tension ring decreases PCO after surgery

Implantation of a capsular tension ring effectively reduces the percentage area of posterior capsular opacification (PCO) and the Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy rate in patients with highly myopic eyes, according to researchers in Albania and Turkey.

The researchers conducted a prospective, single-surgeon, standardized-surgical-procedure fellow-eye comparison trial in which 34 highly myopic patients had phacoemulsification surgery.

All of the patients received an acrylic intraocular lens (IOL) and a capsular tension ring in one eye; the other eye served as a control by receiving the IOL only. The researchers documented PCO within the capsulorhexis overlap using standardized digital retroillumination images at least 2 years postoperatively and scored the percentage area of PCO. The researchers also determined the PCO score and the incidence of Nd: YAG capsulotomy of the eyes.

The researchers found that the PCO score of the eyes with a capsular tension ring was significantly lower (5.9 ± 4.3) than that of the controls (22.3 ± 12.2) (P P = 0.025).

"Even though [capsular tension ring] implantation is not routine in cataract surgery, its implantation should be considered in high myopic patients who have zonular instability and retinal pathologies posing risk for Nd:YAG capsulotomy," the researchers wrote.

Read the entire study in the Indian Journal of Ophthalmology.