Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate visual acuity (VA), refractive outcomes and postoperative complications after implantation of a new foldable intraocular lens (IOL): the 42 F Morcher IOL.
Methods: :
This prospective surgical study included 25 eyes of 25 consecutive subjects (mean age of 71±12 years, range 55-86) undergoing phacoemulsification cataract extraction and implantation of the 42 F IOL in the capsular bag. This new lens (designed by GM and made by Morcher) is an acrylic hydrophilic foldable IOL with an optic of 6 mm and an external circular loop diameter of 11 mm. The loops are angled at 22°. It can be folded and inserted through a 2.8 mm clear cornea incision. Best spectacle-corrected VA (BSCVA), manifest refractive spherical-equivalent (MRSE), refractive astigmatism (RA), and corneal endotelial specular microscopy were assessed 6 months post-operatively and compared with the pre-operative values using the Student t-test. Postoperative anterior and posterior chamber depth and IOL position were evaluated with anterior segment optical coherence tomography (Visante OCT), and UBM assessment.
Results: :
The mean BSCVA significantly improved from 0.3±0.2 pre- to 0.9±0.1 at 6 months postoperatively. RA and TA did not change significantly after surgery. Postoperative outcomes were good in all eyes, showing no complications, decentration or tilting of the IOL. Scheimpflung and OCT images showed wide anterior and posterior chamber and good IOL centration in the capsular bag in all cases. UBM images showed a posterior position of the optic plate comparable with the preoperative posterior capsular position.
Conclusions: :
This preliminary study shows that the new 42 F IOL seems to be an effective and safe surgical alternative to traditional IOLs. BSCVA significantly improved after surgery in all cases without significantly induced astigmatism. The main advantage of this IOL design is the complete distension of the capsular bag, theoretically reducing IOL dislocation and posterior capsule opacification, thus providing an excellent barrier between anterior and posterior eye segment. Moreover, the posterior position of the IOL is provided by the large angle between the optic disc and the loops, thus limiting the posterior vitreous from moving forward to protect against the postoperative complication of retinal detachment. Further long-term studies are needed with this new IOL.
Keywords: intraocular lens • cataract • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: systems/equipment/techniques