Postoperative rotation of a 3-piece loop-haptic acrylic intraocular lens.

PURPOSE: To assess the rotational stability of the AcrySof MA60BM acrylic intraocular lens (IOL) with and without aspiration of residual lens epithelial cells (LECs).

SETTING

Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury, United Kingdom.

METHODS

Routine phacoemulsification was performed with (Group A) or without (Group B) aspiration of residual LECs (random allocation). The baseline position of the IOL was determined from a video frame acquired at the conclusion of surgery. Postoperative IOL position was documented using digital retroillumination images at 2 weeks and 3 months. Early IOL rotation (surgery to 2 weeks postoperatively) was graded as mild (<10 degrees), moderate (10 to 30 degrees), or severe (>30 degrees) by semiobjective comparison of the images. Late IOL rotation (2 weeks to 3 months) was measured more precisely using purpose-designed software.

RESULTS

Group A had incomplete aspiration of residual LECs. The only between-group demographic difference was significantly more men in Group A than in Group B (P<.05). There were no cases of severe early IOL rotation. Mild and moderate early rotation occurred in 91.5% of eyes and 8.5% of eyes, respectively. The mean late rotation was 0.03 degrees +/- 3.06 (SD) (range 7.8 to -8.7 degrees). Aspiration of residual LECs made no statistical difference in early or late rotation (P>.05). Between 2 weeks and 3 months, counterclockwise rotation occurred in 50% of all cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative rotation of the loop-haptic IOL was stable; LEC clearance did not adversely affect performance. The tendency toward counterclockwise rotation would not preclude good performance of a toric model of the IOL.