Effect of capsular tension ring implantation on predicted refractive error after cataract surgery in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome

Abstract

AIM: To investigate the effect of capsular tension ring (CTR) implantation on predicted refractive error after cataract surgery in patients with pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome. METHODS: This double-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on 60 patients with PEX syndrome referring to Imam Khomeini Hospital affiliated to Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran, for undergoing cataract surgery. The study population was divided into two groups, namely CTR group (n=30) and non-CTR group (control group; n=30). The refractive error and anterior chamber depth (ACD) were measured 1wk, 1mo, and 3mo after phacoemulsification (PE) surgery. RESULTS: The results indicated no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of predicted refractive error (obtained by subtracting preoperative predicted refractive error from actual postoperative refractive error) 1wk (P=0.47), 1mo (P=0.30), and 3mo (P=0.06) after the PE surgery. Regarding the CTR group, the changes of ACD was statistically significant 1 and 3mo after the PE surgery, compared to those obtained 1wk post-surgery (P=0.005). CONCLUSION: The CTR implantation in PEX cataractous patients without zonulysis has no statistically significant effect on the predicted refraction and ACD changes after PE. The predicted refraction error has a hyperopic shift in both groups. The results reveal the unnecessary of calculating modified IOL in CTR implantation.

Keywords

• pseudoexfoliation syndrome
• capsular tension ring
• refraction error
• anterior chamber