Echography pinpoints posterior lens capsule rupture before cataract surgery

Am J Ophthalmol. 2012;153(1):51-54.

Issue: June 25, 2012

Echography with a 20-MHz probe was accurate in identifying traumatic posterior lens capsule rupture before cataract surgery, according to a study.

"This technique helps ophthalmologists have an appropriate surgical plan before operating," the study authors said.

The prospective interventional case series included 43 eyes of 43 patients with traumatic cataract slated to undergo surgery. Mean patient age was 35.6 years.

Investigators used the Eye Cubed echography system (Ellex) with a 20-MHz probe to identify rupture of the posterior lens capsule.

All patients underwent cataract extraction through an anterior limbal approach. Investigators compared intraoperative findings of the posterior lens capsule with preoperative echographic findings. They used statistical analysis to determine sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio and odds ratio for echography.

Study results showed that echography identified posterior lens capsule rupture in 17 eyes (39.5%) and intraoperative observation showed rupture in 14 eyes (32.6%).

Based on a comparison between preoperative echographic findings and intraoperative findings, echography had a sensitivity of 93%, specificity of 86%, positive predictive value of 76% and negative predictive value of 96% in detecting posterior lens capsule rupture.

The positive likelihood ratio was 6.7, the negative likelihood ratio was 0.08, and the odds ratio was 81, the authors said.