Unwanted optical effects caused by intraocular lens positioning holes.

The positioning holes in posterior chamber intraocular lenses (IOLs) are the source of many complaints from postoperative cataract patients with well-placed posterior chamber IOLs and otherwise excellent surgical results. Factors influencing which patients are most bothered are (1) size and reactivity of the pupil, (2) distance between the posterior surface of the iris and the anterior surface of the IOL, and (3) diameter of the IOL's clear optical zone. Eliminating the positioning holes is the best way to reduce or prevent the unwanted effects of these lenses.