Four different posterior chamber lens designs were used in 1,845 consecutive, unselected extracapsular cataract extractions performed over a 31-month period in Vejle, Denmark. Ninety-seven eyes (5.3%) required a posterior capsulotomy during a postoperative observation period ranging from two to 32 months. At 16 months postoperatively, the cumulative capsulotomy rate was 7.1% with plano-convex anterior lenses, but only 1.7% with meniscus lenses and 1.8% with continuous ridged lenses. These results suggest that close contact between the posterior capsule and the optic could induce early posterior capsule opacification.