AUG 21, 2008
By Richard S. Hoffman, MD
Cataract/Anterior Segment
This study examined the effects on capsule contraction of making either two or three neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser relaxing incisions in the anterior capsulorhexis rim after cataract surgery. The authors found that making three relaxing incisions in the anterior capsule decreased the amount of anterior capsulorhexis contraction compared with eyes that did not undergo capsulotomy, while two relaxing incisions had no effect.
One hundred patients scheduled to undergo bilateral cataract surgery were subjects in the study. Half of them enrolled in each of two randomized trials. In one trial, subjects received two relaxing incisions in one eye and sham treatment in the other, with the assignment of left and right eye treatment randomized. In the second trial, patients received three relaxing incisions in one eye and sham treatment in the other, again with left-right eye assignments randomized. The anterior capsule opening area was measured immediately after each patient underwent capsulotomy and after one, three and six months.
In eyes with three incisions, the anterior capsule opening area was significantly greater than in their fellow eyes with no incisions after one, three and six months. Additionally, the mean percentage reduction was about 4 percent in eyes with three incisions, significantly smaller than the 17 percent reduction seen in their fellow eyes.
Financial Disclosures
Dr. Hoffman has no financial interests to disclose.