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Two phaco methods prove similarly unable to prevent PCO after cataract surgery
Am J Ophthalmol. 2009;148(3):390-395.
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Two phacoemulsification methods appeared ineffective in stemming the advance of posterior capsule opacification, a clinical trial showed.
Investigators compared the AquaLase and NeoSoniX methods, both from Alcon.
"There was only minimal PCO difference between these two approaches," the study authors said. "Neither AquaLase nor NeoSoniX technique was able to prevent a natural progression of PCO."
The 3-year prospective, randomized clinical trial included 50 patients assessed at 1 year after cataract surgery, 47 patients evaluated at 2 years and 46 patients analyzed at 3 years. All patients had bilateral cataract.
The AquaLase method was used in all right eyes, and the NeoSoniX method was used in all left eyes. All patients received AcrySof SA60AT IOLs (Alcon).
Investigators used the Evaluation of Posterior Capsule Opacification (EPCO) 2000 software program and the Open-Access Systematic Capsule Assessment (OSCA) system to assess PCO at 1, 2 and 3 years after cataract surgery.
In the AquaLase group, mean EPCO 2000 values were 0.324 at 1 year, 0.429 at 2 years and 0.582 at 3 years. In the NeoSoniX group, mean EPCO 2000 values were 0.298 at 1 year, 0.478 at 2 years and 0.594 at 3 years.
In the AquaLase group, mean OSCA values were 0.7097 at 1 year, 0.7515 at 2 years and 0.9667 at 3 years. In the NeoSoniX group, mean OSCA values were 0.8584 at 1 year, 0.8103 at 2 years and 0.9540 at 3 years.
The difference between the two groups' OSCA values at 1 year was statistically significant, the authors said.