Purpose: To compare the intensity of posterior capsule opacification (PCO) between the 1-piece and 3-piece haptic designs of the foldable hydrophobic acrylic AcrySof intraocular lens (IOL) over a 5-year period.
Design: Randomized, prospective, patient- and examiner-masked clinical trial with intraindividual comparison.
Participants: Fifty-two patients with bilateral age-related cataract (104 eyes).
Methods: Each study patient had cataract surgery in both eyes and received a 1-piece AcrySof IOL in 1 eye and a 3-piece AcrySof IOL in the other eye. Follow-up examinations were performed at 1 week, 1 month, 6 months, and 1, 2, and 5 years. Digital retroillumination images were obtained of each eye. The amount of posterior capsule opacification (score range, 0-10) was assessed subjectively at the slit lamp and objectively using automated image analysis software 1, 2, and 5 years after surgery.
Main outcome measure: Posterior capsule opacification score (scale, 0-10).
Results: There was no significant difference between the 1-piece and 3-piece AcrySof IOL in best-corrected visual acuity, overlap of rhexis and IOL, capsular folds, anterior capsule opacification, and posterior capsule opacification (1-piece AcrySof PCO score, 1.7+/-1.7; 3-piece AcrySof PCO score, 1.3+/-1.4; P = 0.30).
Conclusions: Modification of the IOL haptic design of the sharp optic edged AcrySof IOL from a 3-piece to a 1-piece haptic design caused no significant change in PCO intensity and neodymium:yttrium-aluminium-garnet laser treatment rate 5 years after surgery.