Abstract
Purpose :
To assess photic effects caused by interaction between light from off-axis glare source and the edge of various commercially available intraocular lenses.
Methods :
An experimental bench was developed to study the effects of off-axis glare source on various intraocular lens edge designs. The lenses were placed in a wet cell behind a model cornea. The lens fixture was designed to suspend the edge of the optic in isolation, so that scattering from edges of the wet cell or the model cornea does not confound the experimental results. A camera was placed behind the cornea and the intraocular lens. The bench setup allows the camera to move axially and be positioned at different angles to the optical axis of the system of the cornea and intraocular lens.
Results :
A few commercially available intraocular lenses were tested. Results showed that intraocular lenses with sharp edges have the potential to cause severe glare effects close to the optical axis. Results suggest that even though the sharp edges of the IOL have been shown to reduce posterior capsular opacification (PCO) rates, optimization of lens edge design to reduce light scatter can benefit the patient by reducing PCO and also reduce scattering of light close to the optical axis. Even though there is a high likelihood that the stray light from glare sources will be blocked by the iris, decentered IOL or posterior positioning of the IOL can potentially expose the edge of an IOL to off-axis light entering the cornea.
Conclusions :
Intraocular lenses such as enVista and PreVue (Yellow) IOLs (Bausch & Lomb, Inc.) have relatively lower glare, suggesting that these IOLs have an optimal edge geometry leading to low PCO1, and at the same time reduce off-axis light scattering when compared to other IOLs, such as Alcon’s Acrysof IOLs.
1. Packer M, Fry L, Lavery KT, Lehmann R, McDonald J, Nichamin L, Bearie B, Hayashida J, Altmann GE, Khodai O. Safety and effectiveness of a glistening-free single-piece hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lens (enVista). Clin Ophthalmol. 2013;7:1905-12. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S50499. Epub 2013 Sep 24. PMID: 24109169; PMCID: PMC3792945.
This abstract was presented at the 2022 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Denver, CO, May 1-4, 2022, and virtually.