Zdravniški Vestnik (Oct 2005)
Calcified intraocular lens exchange
Abstract
Background: To report clinical features of late calcification of hydrophilic acrylic intraocular lenses (IOL) requiring explantation and to discuss the surgical management.Methods: 100 eyes of 94 patients presenting with Hydroview IOL opacification severe enough to require explantation were enrolled in the study. Lens exchange procedures were performed in Novo mesto Hospital between February 2002 and September 2004. Medical and ophthalmic histories were obtained. Surgical details and visual acuity before and after IOL substitution were retrieved. Explanted lenses were sent for evaluation.Results: 99 calcified IOLs were exchanged with hydrophobic acrylic lenses. In 88 cases IOL was placed in the capsular bag and in 11 cases in the ciliary sulcus. One eye was left aphakic. The mean time between phacoemulsification and IOL explantation was 34.9 months. The mean improvement in visual acuity was 3.8 Snellen lines. The analysis of IOLs demonstrated that the opacification was due to surface calcification.Conclusions: Intraocular lens exchange is effective in patients with loss of vision from calcified IOLs. After the procedure vision can be restored to the level before the formation of lens opacification. The majority of treated patients enjoy improvement in vision. However, the amount of visual recovery is limited by coexisting illness.
