Evaluation of clarity characteristics in a new hydrophobic acrylic IOL in comparison to commercially available IOLs.

PURPOSE

To perform in vitro assessments of surface haze and roughness, subsurface nanoglistenings (SSNGs), and glistenings of a new hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lens (IOL) in comparison to commercially available IOLs.

SETTING

Universities of Utah and Alcalá, and Alcon Vision, LLC.

DESIGN

Experimental study.

METHODS

The IOLs used were Clareon CNA0T0, Tecnis ZCB00 and Tecnis OptiBlue ZCB00V, Eternity W-60, enVista MX60, and Vivinex XY1. Surface haze was assessed by the pixel intensity units (PIU) from cross-sectional slitlamp images, and it was correlated to atomic force microscopy roughness. For SSNGs, the IOLs were artificially aged up to 10 years, followed by Scheimpflug densitometry (computer-compatible tape unit [CCTU]) measurements. For glistenings, the IOLs were immersed in a water bath and subjected to temperature changes before analysis.

RESULTS

The surface haze (n = 10, PIU) was 4.25 ± 0.87 (SD) (CNA0T0), 9.50 ± 1.66 (ZCB00), 39.48 ± 1.97 (ZCB00V), 46.68 ± 3.16 (W-60), 44.70 ± 4.00 (MX60), and 4.42 ± 0.71 (XY1) (P < .001), which showed a strong correlation with surface roughness measurements (R = 0.94, P = .006). The densitometry (n = 10, CCTU at 10 years) was 7.30 ± 1.36 (CNA0T0), 11.88 ± 3.10 (ZCB00), 38.12 ± 2.24 (ZCB00V), 48.13 ± 9.44 (W-60), 20.20 ± 3.84 (MX60), and 6.75 ± 6.66 (XY1) (P < .001), with no significant differences between CNA0T0 vs. ZCB00 and XY1. The glistenings density (n = 30) was the lowest for the CNA0T0, W-60, and MX60 IOLs.

CONCLUSIONS

The new Clareon CNA0T0, which is manufactured from a hydrophobic acrylic material, exhibited among the lowest levels of surface haze and roughness, SSNGs, and glistenings compared with other commercially available hydrophobic acrylic IOLs.