OCT study documents capsular bend, capsular enclosure

PARIS — The anterior and posterior lens capsules completely enclose the optic of an implanted IOL within 1 day following cataract surgery, according to a study performed using ocular coherence tomography. Formation of the capsular bend may require up to 2 weeks, the study found.

Stefan Sacu, MD, presented the results of the prospective, randomized study evaluating the use of optical coherence tomography to document capsular bend formation here at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting.

The study included 33 eyes of 33 patients with age-related cataracts. Phacoemulsification was used for lens removal in all eyes. Eyes were randomly assigned to receive one of three types of IOL: the one-piece acrylic Alcon AcrySof, the three-piece AcrySof or the three-piece silicone Pfizer 911A.

The mean distance between the anterior capsule and the IOL was 197 µm at day 1 postop in the one-piece acrylic IOL group, 161 µm in the three-piece acrylic IOL group, and 220 µm in the three-piece silicone IOL group, according to the study.

In 28 of the 33 eyes (85%), the posterior capsule contacted the IOL within 1 day following completion of surgery, Dr. Sacu said.

Capsular bend formation was noted after a mean follow-up of 10 days in patients implanted with the one-piece acrylic, 13 days with the three-piece acrylic and 15 days with the silicone IOL, Dr. Sacu said.

The difference in capsular bend formation times was not statistically significant, Dr. Sacu noted.