Macular thickness measured by optical coherence tomography in pseudophakic eyes with clear vs yellow implant

Abstract

ObjectiveTo study the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT), for measuring the macular thickness variations produced over time in elderly pseudophakic subjects implanted with a clear intraocular lens (IOL) in one eye, and a yellow IOL in the other eye. MethodsMacular thickness measurements were obtained in the 36 eyes of 18 subjects over 65 years, with cataracts surgically removed from both eyes and implanted with different absorbance (clear and yellow) IOLs in two separate surgeries. Stratus-OCT was used to determine the macular thickness in two sessions with 5 years of difference. ResultsAfter 5 years of follow-up, the eyes implanted with clear IOLs revealed a significant decrease in macular thickness. However, in eyes implanted with yellow IOLs the macular thickness remained stable. The mean overall decrease in macular thickness in eyes implanted with clear IOLs was 5±8μm (p=0.02), and foveal thickness reduction was 10±17μm (p=0.02). ConclusionsThe macular thickness changes produced in eyes implanted with a yellow IOL differ from those with a clear IOL. These observations point to a possible protective effect of yellow IOL against the harmful effects of light in elderly pseudophakic subjects. However, studies with a longer follow-up are still needed to confirm that the protection provided by this IOL model is clinically significant.