Refractive Outcome and 5-Year Capsulotomy Rate of Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic IOLs with Similar Optical Design: A Contralateral Study

Abstract

Abstract Introduction To compare the short-term visual and aberrometric outcomes and the long-term capsulotomy incidence in a cohort of patients receiving IOLs with similar structural profile but with a hydrophobic matrix in one eye (PHOB group) and a hydrophilic matrix in the other one (PHIL group). Methods In this retrospective, contralateral study, 26 patients sequentially undergoing phacoemulsification were implanted as mentioned above. Refraction and aberrometry were evaluated 6 months after surgery. For the quality of vision, the Hartmann-Shack optical aberration, Double-Pass Modulation Transfer Function (MTF), contrast sensitivity, and dysphotopsia results were compared. Capsulotomy was ascertained and dated by medical chart revision or phone call. Results All the considered quantitative and qualitative visual parameters tested statistically comparable between PHIL and PHOB group. After 5 years, four patients (16.7%) in the PHOB group and five patients (20.8%) in the PHIL group underwent a Nd:YAG posterior capsulotomy (P > 0.5). Conclusion In this contralateral comparative study, the hydrophobic and hydrophilic matrix of the IOL similarly influenced the visual and aberrometric outcomes. Also the long-term laser capsulotomy incidence did not statistically differ between groups. The posterior IOL profile, rather than matrix hydrophilia, could consistently influence the posterior capsule opacification.

Keywords

• Aberrometry
• Capsulotomy rate
• Cataract surgery
• Hydrophilic IOL
• Hydrophobic IOL