Clinical evaluation of an ultraviolet light adjustable intraocular lens implanted after cataract removal: eighteen months follow-up.

PURPOSE: To determine the effectiveness of a light-adjustable intraocular lens (LAL) that can be adjusted postoperatively using ultraviolet (UV) irradiation.

DESIGN

A prospective, nonrandomized clinical trial was conducted at Center for Vision Science, Ruhr University Eye Clinic, in Bochum, Germany.

PARTICIPANTS

We included 122 eyes of 91 patients with significant cataract.

METHODS

All patients had a visually significant cataract and were willing to volunteer for the trial. Participants underwent small-incision phacoemulsification followed by implantation of a LAL and were treated with a spatially profiled UV light delivered by a digital light delivery device to induce a targeted spherical and cylindrical refractive change postoperatively. Once the desired correction was achieved, the LAL was treated again to lock in the lens power. Distance visual acuity and manifest refraction was determined with follow-up time to determine the achieved refractive corrections and their stability.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We measured uncorrected visual acuity and best corrected visual acuity achieved versus targeted refractive outcome and refractive stability with a follow-up time of 18 months.

RESULTS

Residual postoperative refractive errors of 0.96 ± 0.85 diopters (D) in sphere and -0.98 ± 0.50 D in cylinder were corrected and stable over a follow-up time of 18 months. Final refraction achieved was 0.03 ± 0.17 D in spherical equivalent refraction.

CONCLUSIONS

Residual spherocylindrical errors up to 2.25 D in sphere and -2.75D in cylinder were successfully corrected with precision. The LAL technology has the potential individually to correct postoperative refractive errors precisely. The achieved refractive corrections are stable for up to 18 months.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any of the materials discussed in this article.