Astigmatism correction with a foldable toric intraocular lens in cataract patients

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the efficacy and rotational stability of a toric posterior chamber silicone intraocular lens (IOL) to correct preoperative astigmatism in cataract patients.

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Vienna, Vienna Austria.

Methods: Between 1993 and 1998, foldable toric single-piece plate-haptic silicone IOLs were implanted in 37 eyes (30 patients). The cylindrical IOL power was 2.00 diopters (D) (n = 29), 3.50 D (n = 7), or 4.00 D (n = 1). Phacoemulsification was performed through a scleral or a corneal sutureless self-sealing incision. Outcomes of Snellen visual acuity (without, with spherical, and with best correction), refractive and keratometric astigmatism, and IOL rotation after early postoperative (mean 15.9 days +/- 10.1 [SD]) and long-term (mean 20.3 +/- 16.6 months) follow-ups were evaluated.

Results: At last follow-up, 31 eyes (83.8%) had a spherically corrected and 34 (91.9%) a best corrected visual acuity of 0.5 (20/40) or better. Mean preoperative refractive and keratometric astigmatism was 2.68 and 2.70 D, respectively. At the last postoperative follow-up, mean refractive astigmatism was reduced to 0.84 D; keratometric astigmatism was 2.30 D. In 7 eyes (18.9%), the IOL axis was rotated a maximum of 25 degrees. In all 37 eyes, the axis of the toric IOL remained within 30 degrees of rotation.

Conclusions: Early postoperative and long-term follow-ups showed effective and stable correction of astigmatism after implantation of a foldable toric posterior chamber silicone IOL.