Effect of Anterior Capsule Polishing on the Rate of Neodymium: YAG Laser Capsulotomy in Multifocal Intraocular Lens

doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-283817/v1

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Research Article

Effect of Anterior Capsule Polishing on the Rate of Neodymium: YAG Laser Capsulotomy in Multifocal Intraocular Lens

https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-283817/v1

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Purpose

Herein, we elucidated the effect of anterior capsule polishing (ACP) during cataract surgery on the rate of neodymium: YAG (Nd: YAG) laser capsulotomy in multifocal intraocular lens (MIOL).

Methods

We extracted the medical records of patients who underwent phacoemulsification with MIOL between May 2016 and April 2017 from the files of the patients, and the follow-ups of fewer than 3 years were excluded. The participants were divided into the ACP group and the non- ACP group based on whether the anterior capsule was polished. The primary outcome was whether to perform Nd: YAG capsulotomy during the follow-up. We analyzed the time from IOL implantation to Nd: YAG laser capsulotomy using the Kaplan-Meier survival curves.

Results

The ACP group comprised 70 eyes and non-ACP group, 60 eyes. One year postoperatively, 7.14% of the eyes in the ACP group and 8.33% in the non-ACP group required Nd: YAG laser capsulotomy (P > 0.99). After 2 years, it was 24.29% and 18.33%, respectively (P = 0.52). After 3 years, it was 30.0% and 28.33% respectively (P = 0.85). There was no distinct difference in the probability for Nd: YAG laser between the ACP group and the non-ACP group evaluated using Kaplan-Meier survival curves (P = 0.81). Patients with implantation of diffractive MIOL (AT LISA tri 839MP) had a high probability of requiring Nd: YAG laser capsulotomy.

Conclusion

Polishing the anterior capsule had no remarkable effect on reducing the rate of Nd: YAG laser capsulotomy after phacoemulsification in MIOL.

Ophthalmology

Anterior capsule polishing

Nd: YAG laser capsulotomy

multifocal intraocular lens

Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) constitutes the most frequent long-term adverse event of cataract surgery, which can lead to visual impairment and require additional surgery ^[1]. While PCO could be treated using Nd: YAG laser by cutting a hole in the dorsal capsule, this process might result in other adverse effects ^[2].

Several strategies have been developed to prevent PCO. These include the material and the organization of the implanted IOL, utilizing cortical cleaving hydrodissection during the operation, continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC), gene therapy, the introduction of osmotic variations in LECs, and lens regeneration ^[3]. However, in routine clinical practice, none of these approaches is acceptably practical, efficacious, and safe.

Numerous studies have assessed the pathogenicity of PCO to establish potential prevention methods. Capsular opacification is caused by proliferation, migration, and transdifferentiation of lens epithelial cells (LECs) that are usually located on the inside of the frontal capsule and remain in the capsule after cataract operation ^{[4, 5]}. These LECs try to go through the usual differentiation or epithelial-mesenchymal transformation, creating different kinds of cell groups in the posterior capsule, resulting in contraction and fibrosis of the lens capsule ^{[5, 6]}. Therefore, removing residual LECs could reduce the likelihood of PCO development.

Here, we retrospectively examined the effect of ACP on PCO and the requisite for Nd: YAG laser capsulotomy after implantation of MIOL.

This 3-year retrospective study was conducted at Shandong Eye Institute, Qingdao Eye Hospital. We mined and collected the medical data from the files of the patients maintained in our hospital. A clinical research assistant supervised the anonymous completion of the form. The protocol of the study and measurements were in line with the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki. The study was performed in accordance with appropriate guidelines and were approved by Qingdao Eye hospital committee. Informed consents for this study participation have been obtained.

Exclusion criteria: glaucoma, high myopia (axial length > 26.0mm), traumatic cataracts, complicated cataracts, progressive retinopathy, uveitis, history of ocular surgery. Besides, the follow-ups of fewer than 3 years were excluded.

Through the medical recording system, a list of patients who underwent cataract surgery and implanted segmental refractive MIOL (SBL-3) or diffracted MIOL (AT Lisa tri 839MP) from May 2016 to April 2017 was collected. We examined all the corresponding medical records, and patients who met the criteria were included. The relevant data before and after surgery were checked and extracted by the end of April 2020.

Patients were categorized into 2 groups based on the mode of operation,, the anterior capsule polishing (ACP) group or the non-anterior capsule polishing (non-ACP) group. The mode of operation was randomly selected; ACP and non-ACP were almost evenly distributed throughout the study period by watching videos of previous surgery (from May 2016 to April 2017). The surgeon was unaware that the relevant data could be used later in this comparative study.

An experienced ophthalmologist (WXM) conducted all the operations with topical anesthesia. The ophthalmologist made a 2.2mm precise corneal incision and then a 5-5.5mm CCC, phacoemulsification, and irrigation and aspiration of the cortex. A segmental refractive MIOL (SBL-3) or a diffractive MIOL (AT LISA tri 839MP) was then put into the capsular bag. In the ACP Group, polishing of the undersurface of the anterior capsule was done in all the quadrants and all the clock hours within the visible range by a polisher.

All patients were administered with topical prednisolone (1.0% eye-drops, 4-times daily, in a tapering dose for 4 weeks), topical levofloxacin (0.5% eye-drops 4-times daily for 2 weeks), and sodium bromfenate (0.1% eye-drops, 2 times daily for 4 weeks).

Our primary observation included establishing the incidence of Nd: YAG laser capsulotomy. The secondary observation constituted documenting the time of Nd: YAG laser capsulotomy from the day of surgery.

We defined PCO as any central whitening or wrinkling of the posterior capsule on the slit lamp examination. Manifestations for Nd: YAG laser capsulotomy was similar for the two groups, taking into account the visual acuity and clinical signs as follows: proximal or distal visual acuity decreased and verified by PCO in clinical examination.

The data herein were statistically analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics versions 22.0 (IBM Corp., NY, USA). Group comparisons at the time of intervention were assessed using the chi-square or Fisher exact test for qualitative data or independent t-test for quantitative data. We utilized the Kaplan-Meier probability curves to compute the risk of Nd: YAG laser capsulotomy in a certain period after surgery. The logarithmic rank test was employed to analyze the difference between two groups of probability curves. P ≤ 0.05 designated statistical significance.

We enrolled one hundred and twenty-one patients (130 eyes) in the study. Among them, 66 were male and 55 female. The ACP group comprised 70 eyes and the non-ACP group, 60 eyes. The characteristics of the patients and correlated ocular parameters are shown in Table 1. There were no remarkable differences in age, gender, and axial length between the ACP group and the non-ACP group.

Table 1
Preoperative patient characteristics.
	Group
Parameter	ACP	Non-ACP	P Value
Patients/Eyes(n)	65/70	56/60	-
Male/Female(n)	34/31	32/24	0.71⁺
Age(years)	50.2 ± 11.03	53.13 ± 13.14	0.17*
AL(mm)	23.49 ± 0.90	23.52 ± 0.91	0.85*
AL = axial length; ⁺chi-square test; * independent t test;

Table 2 primarily shows the characteristics of patients who underwent Nd: YAG capsulotomy in the course of the follow-up period. There were 21 eyes in the ACP groupand 17 eyes in the non-ACP group operated using the Nd: YAG capsulotomy approach. UDVA in the ACP group before Nd: YAG capsulotomy was 0.42 ± 0.22 and 0.49 ± 0.42 in the non-ACP group, and not distinctly different (P = 0.50). One year postoperatively, 7.14% of eyes in the ACP arm and 8.33% in the non-ACP arm needed Nd: YAG laser capsulotomy (P > 0.99). After 2 years, it was 24.29% and 18.33%, respectively (P = 0.52). After 3 years, it was 30.0% and 28.33%, respectively (P = 0.85).

Table 2
Characteristics of patients who underwent of Nd: YAG capsulotomy during the follow-up period
	Group
Parameter	ACP	Non-ACP	P Value
Eyes (n)	21	17	-
Mean time(months)*	18.05 ± 6.50	19.06 ± 11.45	0.74^#
UDVA	0.42 ± 0.22	0.49 ± 0.42	0.50^#
Nd:YAG rate (%)
1year	7.14	8.33	> 0.99⁺
2years	24.29	18.33	0.52⁺
3years	30.0	28.33	0.85⁺
ACP = anterior capsule polishing; UDVA = uncorrected distance visual acuity before ND:YAG;^# independent t test༛* days from surgery to Nd:YAG; ⁺chi-square test;

Table 3 shows the segmental refractive MIOL and diffractive MIOL patients that had underwent Neodymium: YAG laser capsulotomy in the distribution of the ACP and non-ACP arms during the three-year follow-up examination. The patients in the ACP and non-ACP groups were operated using the Nd: YAG laser capsulotomy of segmental refractive MIOL in the first two years.

Table 3
Neodymium: YAG laser capsulotomies performed in the first year, the second year, and the third year follow-up examination.
		Years
IOL	Group	1	2	3
Segmental Refractive MIOL (n = 41)	ACP	1	4	0
Diffractive MIOL (n = 29)	ACP	4	8	4
Segmental Refractive MIOL (n = 27)	Non-ACP	3	1	0
Diffractive MIOL (n = 33)	Non-ACP	2	5	6
MIOL = multifocal intraocular lens;ACP = anterior capsule polishing;

The survival curves of the percentage of patients not in need of Nd: YAG laser therapy as a function of time after IOL implantation are indicated in Fig. 1. The survival curves validated that there was no remarkable difference in the probability for Nd: YAG laser between the ACP arm and non-ACP arm (P = 0.81). Based on the kind of IOL implanted, we conducted an analysis using Kaplan-Meier survival curves by mode of operation with respect to IOL type. Consequently, there were statistical differences (P = 0.0002) (Fig. 2). Patients with an implantation of diffractive MIOL (AT LISA tri 839MP) were more likely to require Nd: YAG laser capsulotomy. There was no distinct difference in patients with implantation of a segmental refractive MIOL with or without ACP (P = 0.69) (Fig. 3). Moreover, there was no marked difference in patients with implantation of a diffractive MIOL (P = 0.13) (Fig. 4).

The occurrence of postoperative PCO is considered as a wound healing outcome of the residual LECs ^{[7, 8]}. LECs play an essential role in the progression and development of capsular fibrosis and contraction ^{[9, 10]}. In our study, a polisher was used to polish the anterior capsule to eliminate the LECs. Theoretically, PCO could be reduced by the removal of these cells. Numerous clinical studies have compared PCO between eyes with capsule polishing and eyes without anterior capsule polishing. Nevertheless, no consensus has been reached on the effectiveness of polishing.

A three-year randomized trial revealed that ACP does not prevent the formation of PCO but allows for more regeneratory cataract ^[11]. Similarly, herein, we established that the rate of Nd: YAG capsulotomy in non-polishing is higher than polishing 3 years postoperatively, but there is no significant difference. Another study showed that the incidence of PCO in the 360-degree polishing group is lower, although not markedly different during a one-year follow-up ^[12]. Consistently, in a different study, the results revealed no apparent advantages of scraping on ACO development in a cohort of 120 eyes with a 6‑month follow‑up ^[13]. Three years following a cataract operation, the ACO of the eyes with polished anterior capsule decreases significantly. However, polishing does not reduce the incidence of PCO when the sharp-edged IOL is implanted in the bag. Even though the results showed that ACP promotes the development of regenerative PCO, this trend is not statistically significant ^[14].

Another study explained why polishing the anterior capsule did not reduce the PCO rate ^[15]. The surgical techniques, including ACP, have a crucial effect on the growth of residual cells in vitro. Notably, although the cells under the anterior capsule are almost entirely removed by polishing before culture, ACP significantly promotes the growth of pouch cells cultured in vitro during phacoemulsification in the human eyes. In the study, capsule polishing did not eliminate all the LECs, and that capsule polishing stimulated strong remaining cell proliferation in vitro, while numerous living cells in unpolished eyes tended to die, leading to less proliferation.

However, some studies indicated that ACP remarkably lessens the incidence of PCO. In one study, the results posited that lower anterior capsule opacification (ACO) and fibrotic PCO with both round‑edged silicone IOLs 3‑years postoperatively in eyes which the anterior capsule was extensively polished ^[16]. A meta-analysis of studies for 1-year or longer follow-up showed that the PCO rate was reduced in the ACP group based on the summary odds ratio on the PCO rate (OR 0.42 95% CI 0.24–0.73) ^[17].

Besides, some studies show that ACP changes the position stability of IOL. A previous study indicated decreasing the polishing of anterior capsule enhances the rotational firmness of a toric IOL ^[18]. However, a study involving 30 patients (60 eyes) revealed that the eyes that did not undergo intraoperative ACP had a likelihood for backward IOL movement by about 0.2mm, at two months after surgery ^[19]. Another study posited that 360° ACP effectively reduces the incidence of the anterior capsule contraction and raises the firmness of IOL in cataract patients with high myopia ^[20].

In the present study, we primarily analyzed the rate of Nd: YAG capsulotomies between two groups using Kaplan-Meier survival curves. Based on the type of IOL implanted in the two groups, there were statistical differences between the two groups by different types of IOL. We found that diffractive MIOL (AT LISA tri 839MP) had a higher incidence of PCO than segmental refractive MIOL (SBL-3) in both the ACP and the non-ACP groups. The kind of intraocular lens could affect the occurrence of PCO. We analyzed the two types of MIOL with Kaplan-Meier survival to verify the effect of ACP on the incidence of PCO in the two kinds of MIOL. Consequently, there were no distinct differences between the two types of MIOL. Therefore, ACP did not affect diffractive MIOL (AT LISA tri 839MP) and segmental refractive MIOL (SBL-3).

We demonstrate that ACP shows no difference in terms of PCO formation in MIOL. A recent study recommended ACP for eyes only with a higher risk of anterior capsule contraction, such as myotonic dystrophy and high myopia, and for those who must undergo a peripheral retinal examination after surgery ^[21]. Therefore, intraoperative ACP might not be a routine choice for ophthalmologists to reduce the incidence of PCO. However, the role of ACP in maintaining the stability of IOL cannot be ignored, especially for MIOL, because some studies have shown that it reduces the occurrence of ACO and the anterior capsule contraction ^[18–20].

There is no significant advantage of polishing on the anterior capsule to decrease the rate of Nd: YAG laser capsulotomy after phacoemulsification in MIOL. ACP might not be a routine choice for ophthalmologists to reduce PCO.

Competing Interests

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Funding Info

No funding or grant support was used for the writing of this report.

Author Contribution

Honglei Li and Xiaoming Wu were the major contributors to the experimental design and drafting of the manuscript. Huiran Bai analyzed and interpreted collected data. Dongle Liu and Yanfeng Han contributed to the study concept and design. All authors reviewed and approved the final manuscript.

Data Availability

The corresponding author had full access to all the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis as well as the decision to submit for publication.

Animal Research (Ethics)

Not applicable

Consent to Participate (Ethics)

The nature of the study was explained to all participants in simple language and an Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Consent to Publish (Ethics)

There is no prior publication by any other journal.

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Effect of Anterior Capsule Polishing on the Rate of Neodymium: YAG Laser Capsulotomy in Multifocal Intraocular Lens

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