AIM:To investigate the influences of Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy with different size on visual acuity(VA), intraocular pressure(IOP), refraction, anterior chamber depth(ACD), and macular thickness(MT)in patients with posterior capsular opacification(PCO).

METHODS: In this retrospective, constantly study, 41 eyes of 41 patients treated with Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy for PCO were divided into 2 groups according to the different incision sizes of capsulotomy: the patients received capsulotomy with the incision diameter less than or equal to 3.5mm were enrolled into group 1, while those received operation with incision diameter more than 3.5mm went to group 2. All patients were followed up before Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy, 1wk, 1 and 3mo after Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy, and the best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA), refraction, IOP, ACD, and MT were compared between two groups.

RESULTS: In both groups, BCVA were significantly improved postoperatively compared with base line(P<0.001), but there was no significant difference between two groups(P>0.05). The diopter(SE)of the two groups were not significantly different before and after operation(P>0.05). Intraocular pressure in group 2 was higher than those in group1 at 1wk(t=-2.609, P=0.013). ACD decreased significantly at 1wk postoperatively(P<0.01), but with no significant difference at 1 and 3mo(P>0.05). Both groups had increased macular thickness lightly at 1wk postoperatively, but with no statistical significance(P>0.05), and there was no significant difference between the two groups at 1wk, 1 and 3mo postoperatively(P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: The increase in intraocular pressure is more pronounced when the size of posterior capsulotomy was larger. However, the changes of BCVA, ACD, refraction, MT are not related with the incision size of posterior capsulotomy.