Influence of across-pupil sutures on the optical quality of intraocular lenses.

PURPOSE

In cases of pupillary capture after previous transscleral fixation of an intraocular lens (IOL), an across-pupil suture technique is sometimes used to stabilize the IOL. We investigated the optical effects of 10-0 polypropylene sutures placed across the pupil.

METHODS

Optical performance was evaluated using the optical bench metrology system, and a single-piece IOL was used in an optical bench system consisting of a model eye, a high-resolution Hartmann-Shack wave front sensor, and an image capturing device with 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, and 4.5 mm apertures with distance focus. To simulate across-pupil sutures, two 10-0 polypropylene sutures were placed 2 mm apart across the pupil. The focus image, spherical aberration, and image quality were measured and compared with and without sutures.

RESULTS

When pupil size increased, spherical aberration increased, irrespective of sutures. No difference was found in spherical aberration with and without sutures, and image qualities at 17.6 and 35.2 cycles per degree were not affected by the across-pupil sutures.

CONCLUSIONS

The differences in optical quality using across-pupil 10-0 polypropylene sutures were clinically negligible.