Risk Factors for Posterior Capsular Rupture in Cataract Surgery

Park, Gun Sic; Shyn, Kyung Hwan

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk factors for posterior capsular rupture in cataract surgery (phacoemulsification or ECCE).
METHODS
The charts of patients who had cataract surgery between March 1993 and May 2000 were reviewed retrospectively. Probable risk factors included age, sex, operated eye (right or left), type of surgery, preoperative visual acuity, presence of diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, hypertension, glaucoma, corneal disease, type of cataract, history of posterior capsular rupture in the other eye (if operated), axial length of the eye, and anterior chamber depth. We compared 63 patients who had posterior capsular rupture with 65 randomly selected patients who had no complications, using statistical analysis.
RESULTS
The type of surgery (p<0.0005), presence of diabetic retinopathy (p<0.05) and type of cataract (p<0.05) were significant risk factors. The others were not statistically significant with posterior capsular rupture in cataract surgery.
CONCLUSIONS
Patients with risk factors for posterior capsular rupture such as diabetic retinopathy, mature and mixed cataract should be carefully operated by experienced surgeons.