Incision sizes with 5.5 mm total optic, 3-piece foldable intraocular lenses.

PURPOSE

To determine incision sizes for 5.5 mm total optic, foldable intraocular lenses (IOLs) made of silicone or hydrophobic acrylic.

SETTING

Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Department of Ophthalmology, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

METHODS

In a prospective randomized clinical study including 40 cataract procedures with a temporal limbal tunnel approach, incision sizes for 5.5 mm optic, 3-piece foldable IOLs were measured before and after phacoemulsification and before and after IOL implantation using calipers. Three 5.5 mm optic, 3-piece foldable IOLs were used: 2 silicone (Pharmacia CeeOn 912, Allergan SI-55NB) and 1 hydrophobic acrylic (Alcon AcrySof MA30BA). Ten lenses of each model were implanted with a forceps, and 10 SI-55NB IOLs were implanted with the AMO Unfolder injector. Measurements of the tunnel incisions at various times were statistically evaluated using an analysis of variance and the Tukey-Kramer multiple comparison test.

RESULTS

Mean tunnel width before and after implantation, respectively, was 3.32 mm+/- 0.06 (SD) and 3.42+/- 0.06 mm for the CeeOn 912 using a Nichamin implantation forceps, 3.28+/- 0.09 mm and 3.42+/- 0.09 mm for the AcrySof MA30BA using a Buratto implantation forceps, 3.00+/- 0.07 mm and 3.10+/- 0.05 mm for the SI-55NB using a Fine Universal II Folder, and 2.66+/- 0.08 mm and 2.81+/- 0.11 mm for the SI-55NB using the AMO Unfolder. Incision sizes before and after implantation were statistically different between 2 IOLs (CeeOn 912 and MA30BA) and the SI-55NB groups. Implantation of the SI-55NB with the Unfolder was associated with significantly smaller incision sizes before and after implantation than implantation with the Fine folder.

CONCLUSIONS

Incisions sizes of 2.8 to 3.4 mm were associated with 5.5 mm total optic, 3-piece foldable IOLs. The Allergan SI-55NB high-refractive-index silicone IOL implanted with the AMO Unfolder system provided the smallest postimplantation incision; however, the refractive optic of this IOL is 5.0 mm versus 5.5 mm for of the CeeOn 912 and AcrySof MA30BA.