Hydro-dissection and posterior capsule opacifi

Objective : to determine the efficacy of hydrodissection in the reduction of posterior capsule opacity. Methods : A non-randomised controlled comparative study carried out at the University College Hospital Ibadan between November 1999 and July 2004. 23 subjects with uncomplicated cataract who had cataract surgery using Extracapsular cataract surgery with out hydrodissection were compared to 33 subjects with similar cataracts who had surgery using hydrodissection. Results : A total of 56 subjects were included in the study comprising 33 subjects in the hydrodissection group (22 males, 11 females, age range 8-88, mean 59.7years). No-hydrodissection group (8 males and 15 females, age range 29-73, mean 60.8years). Early post op complications consisted of cornea striate (hydrodissection group 3%, non-hydrodissection group 34.7%), microcystic epithelial oedema (hydrodissection group78.8%, non-hydrodissection group 39.1%), iritis and irregular pupil. Late post operative complications consisted of cornea oedema 1 in each group, irregular pupil (16.3% more common in the hydrodissection group), and posterior capsule opacity (hydrodissection group 6.1%, and no-hydrodissection group 8.7%). The difference in posterior capsule opacity between the 2 groups was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusion : Hydrodissection is associated with a marginal reduction in post-operative posterior capsule opacity formation following ECCE-IOL surgery. It may however be associated with early post operative complications presumably due to increased manipulation during the procedure. Its use is therefore encouraged but with generous use of viscoelastic material to reduce effect of manipulation on the eye. Keywords : hydrodissection, posterior capsule opacity, cataract extraction Nigerian Journal of Surgical Research Vol. 7(3&4) 2005: 278-280