[The effect of intraocular lens (IOL) length and design on anterior chamber depth under contraction and relaxation of the ciliary muscle].

We compared the effect of intraocular lens (IOL) length and its design on the anterior chamber depth (ACD) change during contraction and relaxation of the ciliary muscle. We performed phacoemulsification or extra capsular cataract extraction using continuous circular capsulorhexis on 100 eyes, and implanted in 23 eyes a short one-piece IOL, in 22 eyes a short three-piece IOL, in 25 eyes a long one-piece IOL, and in 30 eyes a long three-piece IOL. All IOLs were fixed in the capsular bag. ACD changes after administration of 2% pilocarpine and 1% cyclopentolate were measured with a pachymeter between 3 and 6 months postoperatively. The compatibility of the IOLs with ciliary muscle contraction and relaxation was, in descending order, the short one-piece IOL, the short three-piece IOL, the long one-piece IOL, and the long three-piece IOL. The results indicated that short IOLs are more physiologically fixed in the capsular bag, with less stress on the zonules of Zinn.