Pattern of posterior capsule opacification models 2 years postoperatively with 2 single-piece acrylic intraocular lenses

PURPOSE: To compare posterior capsule opacification (PCO) in eyes with 1 of 2 models of 1-piece acrylic intraocular lenses (IOLs). SETTING: Ambulatory surgery center. METHODS: This paired-eye study evaluated patients who had implantation of a Tecnis AAB00 IOL with a continuous optic edge in 1 eye and an AcrySof SA60AT or SN60AT IOL with an interrupted optic edge in the fellow eye. Exclusion criteria were anterior capsule overlap onto the IOL optic of fewer than 360 degrees, neodymium:YAG laser capsulotomy, postoperative time fewer than 24 months or more than 30 months, pseudoexfoliation, glaucoma, history of iritis, and surgical complications that would affect the assessment of PCO. Posterior capsule opacification was assessed using the Evaluation of Posterior Capsular Opacification (EPCO) system on a scale of 0 (none) to 4 (severe opacity with a darkening effect). RESULTS: In 13 of 14 patients, the eye with the interrupted-edge IOL had a higher EPCO score than the eye with the continuous-edge IOL. The mean EPCO score was 0.39 and 0.08, respectively; the difference was statistically significant (P = .012). The PCO density was greater in eyes with the interrupted-edge IOL, with 35% having an EPCO score of 3 or 4; no eye with a continuous-edge IOL had a score that high. CONCLUSION: Eyes with an IOL with a continuous 360-degree square edge had significantly less PCO than eyes with an IOL with a square edge that was interrupted at the optic-haptic junction.