Incision width after phacoemulsification with foldable intraocular lens implantation.

PURPOSE

To determine the incision size after insertion of foldable intraocular lenses (IOLs) using both a forceps and injectors.

SETTING

Intermountain Ocular Research Center, Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.

METHODS

One hundred patients had phacoemulsification through a clear corneal wound. The incision width was measured before and after IOL implantation. A 3-piece silicone IOL and a 3-piece acrylic IOL (both with an optic diameter of 5.5 mm) were inserted using a forceps. A plate-haptic silicone lens and a 3-piece silicone lens with a 6.0 mm diameter optic were inserted using an injector.

RESULTS

The wound size in the group with the 3-piece silicone lens inserted with a forceps enlarged 4.4% (3.23 to 3.38 mm) in the low-power IOL group (15.0 to 20.0 diopters [D]) and 6.2% (3.24 to 3.44 mm) in the high-power IOL group (20.5 to 25.0 D). Similarly, the acrylic IOL wound enlarged 5% (3.21 to 3.37 mm) in the low-power IOL group and 6% (3.25 to 3.44 mm) in the high-power IOL group when a forceps was used. The 3-piece silicone and plate silicone lenses inserted using an injector enlarged the wound 3.2% and 3.3% (3.02 to 3.11 mm and 3.05 to 3.15 mm), respectively. There was no difference in the wound size with higher IOL powers in eyes with injected lenses.

CONCLUSIONS

Clear corneal incisions enlarge after insertion of foldable IOLs in a predictable manner, with a forceps-inserted IOL enlarging the wound diameter more than lenses inserted with an injector. The forceps-inserted lens group also showed a difference in wound size related to IOL power.