Posterior capsule folds and removal of ophthalmic viscosurgical devices

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between posterior capsule folds and an ophthalmic viscosurgical device (OVD) during cataract surgery. Setting: Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas, Texas, USA. Methods: A prospective observational study of 91 consecutive uneventful cataract extractions by phacoemulsification was performed. The presence or absence of posterior capsule folds was noted immediately after intraocular lens (IOL) implantation and after OVD removal. Results: Posterior capsule folds were present in 21 of 49 cases (43%) with an MA60BM lens (Alcon Laboratories) and in 1 of 42 cases (2%) with an SA30AL lens. In the MA60BM group with folds, the folds were noted before OVD removal in 14 cases and after OVD removal in 16 cases. There was no significant difference in age, sex, axial length, horizontal corneal diameter, or IOL power between groups with and without posterior capsule folds. Conclusion: The presence of posterior capsule folds does not reliably signify the complete removal of OVDs.