Anterior capsule contraction and intraocular lens dislocation in eyes with pseudoexfoliation syndrome

Aims - To examine the extent of anterior capsule contraction as well as intraocular lens (IOL) decentration and tilt following implant surgery in eyes with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PE). Methods - 53 eyes from 53 patients with PE and 53 control eyes from 53 age matched patients, undergoing phacoemulsification and implant surgery, were recruited. The anterior capsule opening area and the amounts of IOL decentration and tilt after undergoing continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis were measured using the Scheimpflug videophotography system at 1 week and 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months postoperatively. Results - The mean area of the anterior capsule opening in the PE group was significantly smaller than that in the control group at 1 month postoperatively and later. The percentage reductions in the PE group were approximately 25%, while they were less than 10% in the control group. The degree of IOL tilt was also larger in the PE group than in the control group. Five eyes (9.4%) in the PE group underwent a neodymium:YAG laser anterior capsulotomy, but none in the control group underwent a capsulotomy. Conclusions - The contraction of the anterior capsule opening was more extensive in the PE eyes than in the control eyes, thus resulting in a high Nd:YAG laser anterior capsulotomy rate. The IOL tilt was also greater in the PE eyes than in the control eyes.