Analysis of the capsular bend in posterior capsular opacification using anterior segment optical coherence tomography

Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the link between the capsular bend and the morphological types and characteristics of posterior capsular opacification (PCO) using anterior segment optical coherence tomography.

Methods

Thirty eyes with PCO were examined, and three types of PCO were identified: pearl, fibrosis, and mixed. We assessed anterior capsular overlap, intraocular lens-capsule adhesion, and capsular bending. In addition to measuring the intraocular lens-posterior capsule distance and capsule bending angle (CBA), the PCO parameters (area, density, and score at 6-, 5-, and 3-mm intraocular lens optic regions) were recorded. The associations between capsular bend and PCO type and characteristics were investigated. A control group of 12 eyes without PCO was used to compare the study variables.

Results

With p values greater than 0.001, there was a statistically significant difference in the mean PCO area and score at the 6-, 5-, and 3-mm optic zones in different PCO types, with the pearl type having the highest value, followed by the mixed type, and finally the fibrosis type. The PCO group had a significantly higher mean CBA than the control group ( P = 0.001). CBA was positively related to intraocular lens-posterior capsule distance, PCO area, and PCO score at the 6-, 5-, and 3-mm zones ( P = 0.001). The receiver operating characteristic curve's cut-off point for CBA was 96.85° when comparing PCO cases to controls. Partial overlap and incomplete adhesion were statistically more common in the PCO eyes than in the control ( P = 0.001, 0.003, respectively).

Conclusion

PCO types and CBA have a strong relationship with PCO score and intraocular lens-posterior capsule space. In PCO's eyes, CBA has a cut-off value of 96.85°.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10792-023-02897-7.