Clinical factors related to the frequency and intensity of glistenings in AcrySof intraocular lenses

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the frequency of glistenings in eyes that had phacoemulsification and implantation of AcrySof intraocular lenses (IOLs) (Alcon) and to evaluate the clinical factors related to the glistenings.

Setting: Departamento de Oftalmología, Clínica Universitaria, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.

Methods: A consecutive series of 129 eyes of 94 patients was prospectively evaluated. All patients had cataract surgery and implantation of an MA30BA AcrySof IOL by the same surgeon using the same technique. The operating surgeon examined patients for the presence of glistenings. The frequency and intensity of glistenings were assessed in relation to 14 clinical factors. The effect of glistenings on postoperative Snellen best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was also evaluated.

Results: Glistenings, which occurred in 38 cases (29.5%), were slight in 15 eyes, moderate in 18, and intense in 5. The frequency of the glistenings was related to the time between surgery and evaluation (P =.0001), the IOL dioptric power (P =.01), postoperative inflammation (P =.01), and phacotrabeculectomy (P =.01). The intensity of the glistenings was related to the time after surgery (P =.01) and presence of postoperative inflammation (P =.004). No relation between glistenings and Snellen BCVA was found.

Conclusions: The frequency and intensity of glistenings in AcrySof IOLs increased with time after surgery and were higher when postoperative inflammation was present. Glistenings developed more frequently in cases of phacotrabeculectomy but not after combined phacoemulsification and deep sclerectomy. Glistenings did not result in decreased Snellen BCVA.