Glistenings, anterior/posterior capsular opacification and incidence of Nd: YAG laser treatments with two aspheric hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lenses – a long‐term intra‐individual study

Purpose To compare two hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lenses ( IOL s) regarding long‐term anterior/posterior capsular opacification ( ACO / PCO ) development and need for neodymium:Yttrium‐Aluminum‐Garnet (Nd: YAG ) laser treatment due to visually disturbing PCO , and to study development of glistenings in the IOL materials. Methods In a prospective, randomized, intra‐individual, comparative trial, 50 cataract patients received either an AcrySof IQ ® SN 60 WF (Alcon, Fort Worth, TX, USA) or a Tecnis ® ZCB 00 (Abbott Medical Optics, Santa Ana, CA, USA) IOL in the first operated eye, and the second eye received the IOL type not implanted in the first eye. Anterior/posterior capsular opacification (ACO/PCO) and fibrosis were monitored with slit‐lamp photography and semi‐automated digital analysis 2 and 3 years postoperatively. Glistenings were semi‐quantitatively assessed in slit‐lamp photographs. Nd: YAG laser treatment for visually disturbing PCO was monitored. Results Visual outcomes were similar for the two IOL s. Anterior capsular fibrosis and/or opacification developed more often in SN 60 WF eyes. Mean PCO area percentage was larger in ZCB 00 eyes 3 years after surgery, but severity score did not differ with statistical significance between the two IOL s. Six ZCB 00 eyes and 2 SN 60 WF eyes underwent Nd: YAG laser treatment during a mean of 4 years 8 months after surgery. This difference was not statistically significant. A high amount of glistenings developed in most SN 60 WF IOL s, while only few ZCB 00 IOL s displayed a low degree of glistenings. Conclusion Visual outcomes, PCO development over time and need for Nd: YAG laser treatment were similar for the two IOL s. Anterior capsule fibrosis/contraction and glistenings were more pronounced with the SN 60 WF IOL .