Background: Posterior capsule rupture is one of the most common intra-operative complications of cataract surgery and may lead to other sequelae that affect visual outcome.
Objective: To determine the visual outcome and sequelae at 1 year after cataract surgery complicated by posterior capsule rupture and factors related to poor visual outcome.
Material and Method: Retrospective chart reviews of the patients who underwent cataract surgery complicated by posterior capsule rupture in Siriraj Hospital between January 2006 and December 2009 were performed. Data collected included demographic data, underlying systemic diseases, pre-existing ophthalmic diseases, type of cataract, type of operation, vitrectomy methods, type of intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, pre-operative and post-operative visual acuity, subsequent complications and management.
Results: There were 525 cases that received cataract surgery complicated by posterior capsule rupture. After excluding 280 cases with the follow-up period of shorter than 1 year, 245 eyes of 242 patients were studied. These comprised 111 males and 131 females. The mean age was 69.3 years, ranged from 40 to 92 years. The mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at 1 year was 0.43 (median 0.24). The proportion of patients who had BCVA of 0.3 logMAR or better was 64.5%. After excluding eyes with pre-existing diseases, 72.9% got this level of BCVA. Vitrectomy was required in 75.5%; which consisted of anterior vitrectomy (68.6%) and posterior vitrectomy (6.9%). Primary intra-ocular lens insertion was performed in 87.4%, mostly in the ciliary sulcus (75.5%). Subsequent complications occurred in 13.9%, which included secondary glaucoma (4.9%), cystoid macular edema (2.4%), endophthalmitis (1.6%), rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (1.2%), IOL displacement (1.2%), uveitis (1.2%), corneal decompensation (0.8%) and fibrous ingrowth (0.4%). The factors associated with the poor visual outcome worse than 0.3 logMAR were pre-existing ocular diseases, incision requiring more than 2 stitches, posterior vitrectomy and subsequent complications (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Most of the patients had favorable visual outcome after cataract surgery complicated by posterior capsule rupture. Meticulous vitrectomy to prevent subsequent complications and foldable IOL insertion to minimize the wound size are recommended.

Keywords: Posterior capsule rupture, Cataract surgery