Prospective study of cataract surgery, capsulotomy, and retinal detachment.

We report the incidence of retinal detachment (RD) in 1543 consecutive cases of cataract extraction in a prospective cohort study. Retinal detachment was significantly associated with intracapsular extraction, axial lengths of 24.0 mm or longer and an intact capsule, and capsulotomy in eyes with axial lengths of 24.0 mm or longer. The interval between capsulotomy and RD was significantly shorter in eyes with axial lengths of 24.0 mm or greater. An intraocular lens with stiff, vaulted, poly(methyl methacrylate) optics and a biconvex PMMA optic was associated with significantly less capsule opacification than lenses of other designs.