Effect of an acrylic intraocular lens with a sharp posterior optic edge on posterior capsule opacification

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the posterior capsule opacification (PCO) inhibiting effect of the sharp posterior optic edge design of the Sensar® OptiEdge AR40e intraocular lens (IOL) (Allergan Surgical) with that of the round-edged design of the Sensar AR40 IOL. Setting Department of Ophthalmology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. Methods: This prospective randomized patient- and examiner-masked study comprised 106 eyes of 53 patients with bilateral age-related cataract. Each patient had cataract surgery in both eyes and received an AR40 IOL in 1 eye and an AR40e IOL in the other eye. Postoperative examinations were at 1 week, 2 and 6 months, and 1 year. Digital slitlamp and digital retroillumination images of each eye were taken. The amount of PCO was assessed subjectively at the slitlamp and objectively using automated image-analysis software. Results: The AR40e group had significantly less regeneratory and fibrotic PCO 1 year after surgery. The mean automated image-analysis software PCO score (scale 0 to 10) was 2.19 in the AR40 group and 1.10 in the AR40e group ( P < .001). The AR40e group had less peripheral fibrotic PCO. There was no significant difference in patient-reported edge glare between the 2 IOL groups. Conclusions: The sharp-edged design of the Sensar OptiEdge AR40e IOL led to significantly less PCO than the round-edged AR40 IOL 1 year postoperatively.