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

Abstract

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: University hospital. Design: Prospective self-controlled trial. Methods: Patients with age-related cataracts aged 56 to 84 years displaying normal axial length were enrolled. Prior to surgery, a coin-toss method was used to randomly select one eye for intraoperative 360° 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 slit-lamp examination. Results: Twenty-one 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 time point (P > .05). Conclusions: For patients with age-related cataracts and normal axial length, 360° 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.