[First results of implantation of a new, potentially accommodative posterior chamber intraocular lens].

PURPOSE

Conventional posterior chamber intraocular lenses (PCIOL) generally provide excellent visual acuity but do not restore accommodation. A new, potentially accommodative PCIOL has been designed after principles elaborated by K.D. Hanna using finite element models. However, before newly developed PCIOL may be implanted routinely in larger numbers of patients, careful and meticulous evaluation in clinical studies is necessary. Thus, it was the aim of this study to investigate intra- and early 3-month postoperative findings after implantation of the newly designed PCIOL.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In a prospective pilot and safety study that was approved by the ethics committee of our university, six eyes of six patients (2 males, 4 females, age range 54 to 87 years) with senile or presenile cataract underwent phacoemulsification and implantation of the new PCIOL by one surgeon between June and November 2000. The PCIOL (1 CU, HumanOptics AG, Erlangen, Germany) is a one-piece hydrophilic acrylic foldable lens with an optic diameter of 5.5 mm. Modified haptics are intended to allow anterior movement of the lens optic as a function of contraction of the ciliary muscle. Intra- and early postoperative findings obtained after one and two days, one, two and six weeks and 3 months postoperatively were documented prospectively. Postoperative examinations included recording of distance and near visual acuity both obtained with best distance correction, determination of subjective near point and measurement of distance and near refraction by streak retinoscopy. Follow-up was at least three months in all patients.

RESULTS

Surgery was uncomplicated in all patients with successful in-the-bag implantation and good centration of the PCIOL. The postoperative course was uncomplicated without inflammation, hemorrhage, synechiae or decentration. Visual acuity improved in all patients according to the status of the macula with values between 20/200 (atrophic maculopathy) and 20/20. After three to six months we observed a difference between retinoscopic near and distance refraction of 0.625 to 1.875 D and subjective near points of 40 to 100 cm. Near visual acuity with distance correction ranged from 0.1 or J 16 (atrophic maculopathy) to 0.4 or J 7.

CONCLUSIONS

These early and preliminary results of our small pilot study are encouraging. Our findings may indicate at least some degree of pseudophakic accommodation. However, further studies with additional methods of measurements, with longer follow-up, more patients and controlled studies with control groups are essential to further determine safety and potential accommodative power of this new PCIOL.