[Phacoemulsification in posterior polar cataract].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the technical particularities of phacoemulsification and the intraoperative complications in posterior polar cataract.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective study which comprises 10 eyes with posterior polar cataract (8 patients), operated on between May 2001 and April 2004 in the ophthalmology department of the Military Hospital Cluj-Napoca, by the same surgeon. Phacoemulsification with low parameters was performed in all cases, and acrylic and PMMA intraocular lenses were implanted in 9 eyes.

RESULTS: The patients' age was between 24 and 80 years, with a mean age of 55.12 years. The majority of the patients presented bilateral posterior polar cataract (70%), but only 2 patients were operated on the both eyes in the analyzed period. The posterior capsule rupture occurred in 4 eyes (40%). A posterior residual plaque was attended in one case, but did not influence the short term visual acuity. The visual acuity of the 3 cases which were affected unilaterally was not influenced by the surgery, which was without complications in 2 cases. The causes were preexisting amblyopia.

CONCLUSIONS: The study confirms the high risk to posterior capsule rupture during posterior cataract surgery and the high incidence of the bilateral form (70%).