Toric IOL improves patient quality of life

Implantation of a toric IOL results in improved patient quality of life and better visual, refractive and aberrometric results, states a new investigation.

A team headed by Dr R. Mencucci, Department of Specialised Surgical Sciences–Eye Clinic, University of Florence, Florence, Italy, assessed three groups of subjects who underwent unilateral cataract surgery with IOL implantation.

The first group consisted of 40 patients with corneal astigmatism greater than 1.5 D implanted with an Acysof toric SN60TT IOL. Group two included 40 astigmatic patients implanted with the SN60AT IOL and group three included 40 patients with an astigmatism of less than 1.00 D implanted with an SB60AT IOL.

The outcome measures were uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), refraction, lower order astigmatism, Strehl ratio and the modulation transfer function area ratio assessed over a three-month follow-up period. The group used a standardised quality of life test to assess both astigmatic groups three months postoperatively.

Postoperative UDVA and aberrometric values were significantly better in the toric and control group, compared with the SN60AT group. The mean postoperative spherical equivalent was significantly lower in the toric and control groups, compared to the SN60AT group.

Overall, the toric lens resulted in a better postoperative quality of life compared to the astigmatic SN60AT lens in astigmatic patients.

Please visit the British Journal of Ophthalmology to read the abstract.