Digital vs manual axis marking for toric phakic intraocular lens alignment: prospective randomized intraindividual trial.

PURPOSE: To compare visual and refractive outcomes and postoperative axis alignment for toric implantable collamer lens (ICL) implantation in astigmatic myopia using manual vs digital marking techniques.

SETTING

Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.

DESIGN

Prospective randomized single-centered intraindividual comparison.

METHODS

Patients undergoing bilateral toric ICL implantation for myopia with astigmatism ≥0.5 diopters (D) were enrolled. Patients received both marking techniques, and randomization was performed. Postoperative retroillumination photography assessed axis alignment, and visual and refractive parameters were evaluated. Duration of the surgeries was recorded.

RESULTS

The study included 20 patients and 40 eyes. Preoperative visual and refractive parameters showed no significant differences. Postoperatively, residual astigmatism ( P = .824) and spherical equivalent ( P = .309) were comparable. No notable differences between right and left eyes in preoperative ( P = .371) and postoperative ( P = .824) astigmatism were observed. Although slight, corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) increased in both groups postoperatively ( P = .381). Gain in CDVA was comparable between marking techniques ( P = .637). Safety and efficacy indices were comparable ( P = .991 and P = .189, respectively). Postoperative axial misalignment was 2.8 ± 3.1 degrees in the digital- and 4.4 ± 5.1 degrees in the manual group ( P = .260). Vector analysis showed no significant differences between manual and digital marking. Duration remained uninfluenced by the marking technique ( P = .970) and side of surgery ( P = .682).

CONCLUSIONS

Digital and manual marking techniques provided comparable results in axis alignment, surgical duration, and visual and refractive outcomes. Both methods were viable for precise axis alignment, with digital marking offering a potential advantage in efficacy.