Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To determine the amount of adjustment needed to the intraocular lens diopter when placed in the sulcus in order to achieve the target refraction. Methods: Thirty records of patients who underwent phacoemulsification cataract extraction and sulcus lens implantation were reviewed. The target refraction and intended intraocular lens diopter (for in the bag placement) were noted, and these were compared to the 4 week post–operative refraction and the actual power of the lens implanted in the sulcus. Results: Of the 30 patients, 32% were men and 68% were women. The average age was 69 years old. The average axial length was 23.3 mm. Seventy–four percent had clear cornea incision surgery, while 26% had a scleral tunnel approach. The implanted sulcus lens power was reduced by 1 Diopter in 8 patients, and the average difference in the target and actual spherical equivalent at post–operative week 4 was –0.7 Diopters. In 7 patients, the sulcus lens power was reduced by 0.5 Diopters, and the average difference was –0.4 Diopters. The sulcus lens power was unchanged in 15 patients, and the average difference in the pre–operative target refraction and the actual spherical equivalent in this group was –1.3 Diopters. Conclusions: In our series of patients who underwent phacoemulsification and sulcus lens implantation, decreasing the intraocular lens power by 0.50 Diopters was associated with the least difference between the target and post–operative achieved spherical equivalent. The greatest discrepancy between the target and actual refraction occurred when no adjustment was made to the lens power when implanting it in the sulcus.
Keywords: cataract • refraction