Impact of anterior capsule polishing on capsule opacification and capsule bend after age-related cataract surgery

Purpose: To investigate the effect of anterior capsule polishing on postoperative capsule opacification and capsular bend in patients with age-related cataract displaying normal axial length. Setting: Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University at Hangzhou. Design: Prospective self-controlled trial. Methods: Patients with age-related cataracts aged 56 to 84 years displaying normal axial length were enrolled. Before surgery, a coin-toss method was used to randomly select 1 eye for intraoperative 360 degrees anterior capsule polishing (polishing group); the contralateral eye received no treatment (control group). Capsular bend index (CBI), anterior capsule opacification (ACO), posterior capsule opacification (PCO), and anterior capsule opening area (ACOA) were recorded at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months postoperatively using swept-source optical coherence tomography and slitlamp examination. Results: 21 patients (42 eyes) were enrolled. Within-group comparisons showed that both groups had significant differences in CBI between 1 week and 1 month postoperatively, and between 6 months and 12 months postoperatively (P < .05). Between-group comparisons revealed a significant difference in CBI at 1 week postoperatively (P < .05); at 12 months postoperatively, there was a significant difference in ACOA (P < .05). There were no significant between-group differences regarding ACO or PCO at any timepoint (P > .05). Conclusions: For patients with age-related cataracts and normal axial length, 360 degrees anterior capsule polishing can delay early capsular bag deformation without increasing the risks of ACO and PCO. This approach can also limit contraction of the anterior capsule opening.