European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

MECHANISM, PREVENTION & MANAGEMENT OF POSTERIOR CAPSULAR OPACIFICATION- A REVIEW ARTICLE

Bhavna G., *Manjunath Natarajan and Dr. Jayashree Dora

ABSTRACT

Expectation of patients receiving modern day cataract surgery has become similar to refractive surgery. Over the last few decades, PCO has been the most common visually disabling sequel of cataract surgery and has important medical, social and economic implications. Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) refers to the opacity that develops in the posterior capsule after cataract surgery. In recent years, with better understanding of the mechanism of PCO formation, advancement in technique of surgery, introduction of 360 degrees sharp optic edge IOLs, recognition of the importance of thorough cortical clean-up, there has been a reduction in the incidence of PCO (to < 10%). However, PCO has not yet been eradicated as it has not been possible to totally get rid of regenerative cells in the equatorial lens bow at cellular level, by any interventional method currently known. The present article reviews literature related to the mechanism, prevention and management of PCO, highlighting current concepts and developments in last few years and future endeavours to manage, prevent and eradicate PCO.

Keywords: posterior capsule, Soemmering’s ring, Elschnig’s pearls, lens epithelial cells, Nd:YAG.