Evaluation of posterior capsular opacification following phacoemulsification, extracapsular and small incision cataract surgery

Background: Posterior capsular opacification is the most common complication of modern cataract surgery. Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 150 patients (150 eyes) out of which 50 eyes each underwent cataract surgery by extracapsular cataract extraction, small incision cataract surgery and phacoemulsification technique. On postoperative follow up posterior capsular opacification and Neodymium: Yttrium Aluminium Garnet laser capsulotomy rate was evaluated. Result: Posterior capsular opacification rate was significantly less (p=0.03) in eyes which had undergone phacoemulsification as compared to extracapsular cataract extraction. However capsulotomy rate was not statistically significant after comparison of the three surgical techniques of cataract surgery. Conclusion: Posterior capsular opacification following cataract surgery can be minimized by the use of small incision cataract surgery and phacoemulsification.