Correction of myopia after cataract surgery with a light-adjustable lens

Abstract

Purpose: To determine whether residual myopia could be corrected postoperatively using the light-adjustable lens (LAL) technology in patients undergoing cataract surgery and LAL implantation.

Design: A prospective clinical study was conducted at Codet Vision Institute in Tijuana, Mexico. The LALs were implanted that would purposely result in myopic errors of up to -1.5 D (diopter). The LAL was treated with a spatial intensity profile delivered by a digital light delivery device to induce a targeted myopic refractive change. Once the desirable myopic correction was achieved, the LAL was treated again to lock-in the lens power.

Participants: Fourteen eyes of 14 patients were studied.

Methods: The manifest refraction, uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), and best- or spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), were measured with follow up time of 1 to 9 months to determine the achieved refractive corrections and their stability.

Main outcome measures: We measured UCVA and BCVA, achieved versus targeted refractive outcome, and refractive stability with follow up time of 1 to 9 months.

Results: Of 14 eyes, 13 eyes (92.9%) achieved 0.25 D of the target refraction at 1 day post lock-in with 100% of the eyes achieving the targeted refractive adjustment within 0.5 D or better with up to 9 months postoperative follow-up. All eyes treated show no change in manifest spherical refraction >0.25 D between 1 day post lock-in, and 3, 6, and 9 months postoperative visits. The data demonstrate the stability of the achieved refractive change after the adjustment and lock-in procedures. The mean rate of change was 0.006 D per month, which is 6 times more stable than that of laser corneal refractive procedures.

Conclusions: Residual myopia errors up to -1.5 D were successfully corrected with precision and significant improvement in UCVA and without compromising BCVA using the LAL technology.