Toric Intraocular Lenses in Cataract Surgery

Abstract

Cylindrical deficits in patients with corneal astigmatism of 0.50 diopter (D) to 1.00D may influence visual acuity. Increasing age and cataract surgery are correlated with greater prevalence and extent of corneal astigmatism. Conventionally, spectacles and contact lenses have been used to improve or correct corneal astigmatism. However, increasing demand for freedom from spectacles for distance vision and high prevalence of pre-existing corneal astigmatism in cataract patients have forced cataract surgery for the correction of aphakia and pre-existing corneal astigmatism to become common practice. However, implantation of toric intraocular contact lenses (IOLs) into the eye during cataract surgery may be a more predictable, powerful, and stable way of correcting pre-operative corneal astigmatism and may provide an adjunct or alternative to spectacles or relaxing incisions. Early toric IOLs were associated with post-operative rotational stability, lens misalignment, and safety concerns. The use of the new AcrySof® IQ Toric IOL for the correction of aphakia and pre-existing corneal astigmatism has largely mitigated these concerns. In addition, the AcrySof® IQ Toric IOL may also replace other treatment options for correcting pre-existing corneal astigmatism in patients undergoing cataract surgery.