Review Article

Does Posterior Capsule Opacification Affect the Results of Diagnostic Technologies to Evaluate the Retina and the Optic Disc?

Table 1

Studies considering the influence of PCO on test results.

Author (year) [reference number]TestPrecapsulotomy BCVA
(mean ± SD)
Postcapsulotomy BCVA
(mean ± SD)
Results after capsulotomy

García-Medina et al. (2006) [14].AP260.35 ± 0.11
(decimal scale)
0.84 ± 0.14
(decimal scale)
MD and PSD improved.

García-Medina et al. (2006) [23]SLP280.41 ± 0.12
(decimal scale)
0.85 ± 0.13
(decimal scale)
NFI and TSS increased. Significant decreases of all absolute parameters.

Vetrugno et al. (2007) [24]SLP1580.3 ± 0.6
(LogMar)
0.05 ± 0.2
(LogMar)
Inferior ratio and TSNIT SD decreased. Superior/nasal increased.

Brittain et al. (2007) [25]SLP200.32 ± un
(LogMar)
0.14 ± un
(LogMar)
TSS and TSNIT SD increased. TSNIT score decreased.

Arraes et al. (2008) [26]SLP370.2 ± un
(decimal scale)
0.8 ± un
(decimal scale)
No significant difference between parameters.

Hougaard et al. (2001) [35]TD-OCT130.29 ± un
(decimal scale)
0.39 ± un
(decimal scale)
Signal-to-noise ratio increased but no changes in macular thickness.

Garcia-Medina et al. (2007) [32]TD-OCT320.25 ± 0.17
(decimal scale)
0.77 ± 0.22
(decimal scale)
SS increased but no changes in pRNFL thicknesses (in reliable exams).

González-Ocampo-Dorta et al. (2008) [40]TD-OCT320.25 ± 0.17
(decimal scale)
0.77 ± 0.22
(decimal scale)
SS increased but no changes in macular thicknesses (in reliable exams).

Altiparmak et al. (2010) [36]TD-OCT540.47 ± 0.3
(decimal scale)
0.91 ± 0.14
(decimal scale)
No change of the foveal thickness.

Giocanti-Aurégan et al. (2011) [37]TD-OCT300.6 ± 0.3
(LogMar)
0.1 ± 0.3 
(LogMar)
No change of the foveal thickness.

Wróblewska-Czajka et al. (2012) [38]TD-OCT55NANANo change of the central macular thickness.

Kara et al. (2012) [31]TD-OCT980.49 ± 0.28
(LogMar)
0.09 ± 0.11
(LogMar)
SS and pRNFL thicknesses increased.

Garcia-Medina et al. (2013) [34]SD-OCT37 0.27 ± 0.19 
(decimal scale)
0.83 ± 0.18 
(decimal scale)
All pRNFL thickness parameters increased. No changes when considering reliable examinations.

Garcia-Medina et al. (2013) [41]SD-OCT350.23 ± 0.28
(decimal scale)
0.81 ± 0.16
(decimal scale)
All macular thickness parameters increased. No changes when considering reliable examinations.

Ruiz-Casas et al. (2013) [39]SD-OCT310.4 ± NA0.8 ± NANo change of the foveal thickness.

BCVA: best-corrected visual acuity, SD: standard deviation, AP: automated perimetry, MD: mean deviation, PSD: pattern standard deviation, SLP: scanning laser polarimetry, NFI: nerve fiber indicator, TSS: typical scan score, TSNIT: temporal-superior-nasal-inferior-temporal, NA: not available, TD-OCT: time domain optical coherence tomography, SD-OCT: spectral domain optical coherence tomography, SS: signal strength, and pRNFL = peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer.