Prospective study comparing hydrogel with PMMA lens implants.

A prospective study has been undertaken to assess the relative merits of one-piece polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and poly 2 hydroxyethylmethacrylate "hydrogel" (P-HEMA) lenses in uncomplicated eyes after uncomplicated surgery. Two groups of 125 eyes each were matched in terms of patient age and sex. One group received PMMA lenses; the other group received P-HEMA lenses. Six months after surgery the visual acuity of 42% of eyes with P-HEMA lenses was 20/15, whereas that of 29% of eyes with PMMA lenses was 20/15 (p = 0.02). Major decentration occurred in two cases of P-HEMA lens implantation, but asymptomatic subclinical decentration was more common with PMMA lenses (p less than 0.001). The looped PMMA lens was considered adaptable to a wider variety of surgical conditions.