Capsule complication during cataract surgery: Long-term outcomes

Abstract

PURPOSE: To describe the long-term outcomes after cataract extractions with a capsule rupture included in the Swedish Capsule Rupture Study. SETTING: Ten ophthalmic surgery departments in Sweden. METHODS: From the cohort of patients originally selected for inclusion in the Swedish Capsule Rupture Study, cases with a capsule complication (study group) and cases without a complication (control group) were examined approximately 3.5 years postoperatively. Visual acuity and objective and subjective parameters were registered. RESULTS: The study group comprised 171 patients and the control group, 198 patients. Patients with a capsule complication had a significantly worse visual outcome and a doubled risk for no improvement in preoperative visual acuity. Pupil distortion, iris damage, synechias, and subjective complaints related to the eye were significantly more common in patients with a capsule complication. CONCLUSION: Capsule complications decreased the probability of good postoperative visual acuity and in general yielded a worse long-term outcome after phacoemulsification surgery.