PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence of posterior capsule opacification after implantation of two different intraocular lenses (IOLs), AcrySof and Stabibag, by comparing the neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG) laser capsulotomy rates. METHODS: The medical records of 596 patients (705 eyes) who underwent phacoemulsification and posterior chamber IOL implantation using either AcrySof (n = 335) or Stabibag (n = 370) IOLs during a 1-year (1999) period were reviewed. Eyes with secondary cataract, combined procedures or operative complications, such as capsule tears, were excluded from the study. The subjects' age, sex, surgeon (two surgeons), and time for Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy were recorded. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 23 months in both IOL groups. There were no statistically significant differences within the two IOL groups regarding sex distribution or surgeon. The mean age in the AcrySof group was 77.0 years compared to 79.2 years in the Stabibag group (p = 0.001). Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy was performed in 7.6% of patients in the Stabibag group compared to 2.7% in the AcrySof group (i.e. at a significantly higher rate) (p = 0.004). Survival analyses demonstrated that age and type of IOL were the only independent predictors of the incidence of capsulotomy. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the frequency of eyes with posterior capsule opacification needing capsulotomy was significantly higher in eyes with Stabibag IOLs compared to eyes with AcrySof IOLs.