Survey on the use of intraocular lenses.

A birth of interest in lens implantation occurred especially in the United states in 1974. This coincides with the beginning of four major American lens manufacturers. This interest expoded in 1975 and 1976 and seems to be continuing to grow. Only a few surgeons have stopped implants, most of them after having done ten or less. Half of the surgeons now doing implants have done 25 or less, while 40% have performed a series of 25 to 200. Intracapsular lens styles were the most often used, and the Worst Medallion lens was by far the most popular. Medical Workshop was the leading supplier of lens implants. Accounting for 25%, and European lenses were more often used (61%). The majority of surgeons beginning lens implants after 1974 used either American lenses exclusively or both sources. The majority of lenses used were designed by Binkhorst and Worst. Only 4% of lenses implanted were done secondarily, but one third of the surgeons have performed this procedure; more do them as their experience grows. An overall visual acuity of 20/40 or better postoperatively was found in 83.8% of cases. Significant lens power errors were rare but increased with increasing experience. One third of the surgeons have reported removing a lens implant at a rate of 0.8%, but only 3% of the surgeons have reported removing an eye with a lens implant at a rate of 0.05%.