Course of postoperative inflammation after implantation of 4 types of foldable intraocular lenses

Abstract

PURPOSE: To compare the course of postoperative inflammation after small incision cataract surgery with implantation of 4 types of foldable intraocular lenses (IOLs). SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Vienna, Austria. METHODS: One hundred twenty eyes were prospectively randomized to receive a foldable silicone (Pharmacia 920), hydrogel (Bausch & Lomb Hydroview), methyl methacrylate/hydroxyethyl methacrylate (Mentor MemoryLens), or acrylic (Alcon AcrySof) IOL. All surgery was performed by the same experienced surgeon using a standardized surgical protocol: clear corneal incision, capsulorhexis, phacoemulsification, and in-the-bag implantation of the IOL. All patients received standardized postoperative medication and follow-up. Postoperative inflammation was evaluated by measuring aqueous flare preoperatively and 1, 3, 7, 14, 28, 90, and 180 days after surgery using the Kowa 1000 laser flare-cell meter. RESULTS: Except on the first day after surgery, when the AcrySof group had higher flare values than the other groups (P = .0265), no significant differences were found up to 6 months. Re-establishment of the blood-aqueous barrier was similar in eyes with the AcrySof, Hydroview, and MemoryLens IOLs; the course of postoperative inflammation was different in eyes with the silicone IOL. CONCLUSION: Comparison of postoperative flare values after implantation of 4 foldable IOLs showed no clinically relevant differences in the course of postoperative inflammation.