Exchanging lenses for clear vision

Here, Magda Rau, MD, discusses the idea of performing clear lens exchange with a multifocal intraocular lens.

With the increased popularity of refractive surgery, patients are coming to expect more and more of their vision. Many people are reluctantly wearing reading glasses and so are prepared to undergo refractive surgery to avoid this. Clear lens exchange followed by implantation of multifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) is not only a treatment for presbyopia; it can also be used as a tool for patients who are interested in refractive surgery.

Excluded from the study were patients with astigmatism of more than 1.25 D, patients with very high expectations for postoperative vision, extremely anxious and/or demanding patients, patients whose jobs required high visual acuity in the near distance, patients who were never satisfied with multifocal glasses and patients with an insufficiency in the suspensor ligament of the lens.

Phacoemulsification was performed through a clear corneal incision. Capsulorhexis was then performed with a diameter of 4.5 to 5.0 mm - smaller than usual, with the aim of achieving a better centering of the lens. The IOL was implanted into the capsular bag, using the Unfolder Silver Series implantation system (AMO). An enlargement of the 3.2 mm incision was not necessary. In all cases the anterior capsule covered the lens.

How did the lens perform?

Three months after the implantation of Tecnis, the mean uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) for distance vision was 0.92, while the mean BCVA for distance vision was 0.98 and the mean correction -0.25.

Mean visual acuity (UCVA) for near vision was 0.91. The UCVA for near vision was 20/32 or better in all patients, while 72% achieved 20/20 vision and 10% achieved 20/25 or better.

Contrast sensitivity was tested using the functional acuity contrast method developed by B.P. Ginsburg. The curve of all patients' eyes in our study lay in the normal area with the average curve of our group found in the middle of the normal area of the functional acuity contrast test.

Importantly, what did the patients think?

Three months postoperatively, the following questionnaire was issued to our patients, which they were asked to answer anonymously.

By reducing spherical aberration, Tecnis may greatly compensate for loss in contrast sensitivity and other visual disturbances arising from the projection of two separate images onto the retina.

The youthful, aberration-free human eye has become the standard by which patients and ophthalmologists evaluate the results of cataract and refractive eye surgery today. With our increased knowledge and the evolution of new techniques and technologies, each innovation takes us one step closer to achieving that youthful, aberration-free eye.

Magda Rau, MD is head of the Augenklinik Cham, Germany. She may be contacted by E-mail: info@augenklinik-cham.de