Novel Technique of Pneumatic Posterior Capsulorhexis for Treatment and Prevention of Posterior Capsular Opacification

ABSTRACT PURPOSE: To evaluate a new technique of posterior capsulorhexis using air support to treat primary posterior capsular opacification (PCO) during cataract extraction surgery or to prevent post-operative PCO. SETTING: 1-Ophthalmology department, Faculty of medicine, Minia University, El-Minia, Egypt. 2- Security Forces Hospital, Ophthalmology Department, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized case-control comparative study. Methods: 100 eyes of 100 patients with a mean age of 63.3 years with dens cataract. Fifty of them ( group 1) with primary PCO (discovered during the operations) and fifty (group 2) with clear posterior capsule. All cases undergone phacoemulsification, posterior capsulorhexis using the air to support the posterior capsule and separate it from the vitreous (the novel technique will be discussed later). Then IOL implantations wear done in the bag between the anterior and posterior capsular rim. Each patient was evaluated for the following:- visual acuity (UCVA and BCVA), intraocular pressure, intra ocular lens stability, visual axis opacification and posterior segment complications as retinal break, retinal detachment or cystoid macular oedema.