DEC 05, 2011
Comprehensive Ophthalmology
This prospective, nonrandomized trial included 122 eyes implanted with a light-adjustable IOL that can be adjusted postoperatively using ultraviolet radiation. The final refractive outcomes were impressive.
At 18 months follow-up, residual spherocylindrical errors up to 2.25 D in sphere and -2.75 D in cylinder were successfully corrected, with 98 percent of patients within ± 0.50 D of the intended correction and 79 percent of eyes experiencing 0 D of residual sphere. Results were stable over 18 months. Final refraction achieved was 0.03 ± 0.17 D in spherical equivalent refraction. Approximately half of the eyes required a second adjustment to individually fine-tune residual refractive errors before lock-in.
The authors note that one of the keys to success is patient compliance with wearing UV protective spectacles until lock-in is performed. Without the UV-protective spectacles, there is a risk for unintended photopolymerization of the light-adjustable IOL by ambient UV light, which can lead to unpredictable optical changes of the implanted lens.
They conclude that this technology may provide surgeons with greater confidence in final refractive outcomes, as increasing numbers of patients expecting better UCVA develop cataracts.