Posterior Capsule Opacification Occurrence Time in Cases of Bilateral Posterior Chamber Intraocular Lenses Implantation

Purpose: To compare the time of posterior capsule opacification (PCO) occurrence in the first eye and the second eye in bilaterally PC-IOL implanted patients. Methods: This retrospective study comprised of 332 eyes of 166 patients who received phacoemulsification and PC-IOL implantation due to cataract in both eyes from January, 1993 to December, 1998 by one surgeon. Time interval between the surgery and the PCO occurrence and the follow up period was reviewed. Kaplan-Meier method and Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis. Results: PCO occurred in 12 patients in the first eye only, in 9 patients in the second eye only, and in 13 patients in both eyes. Twenty-five percent PCO occurrence time for the first eye was 51.1 months and for the second eye was 34.9 months using Kaplan Meier survival analysis. Overall PCO occurrence rates were not significantly different between the two groups using log rank test (p=0.15). But in the younger age group(under 60 years old), PCO occurrence time was significantly shorter after the second eyes surgery compared with the first eyes surgery using Mann-Whitney U test (p=0.038). Conclusions: In bilaterally PC-IOL implanted eyes, overall PCO occurrence rates were not significantly ifferent. However, PCO occurs earlier in the second eyes than in the first eyes in the younger age group.