Long-Term Clarity After Implantations Of Hydrophobic Acrylic Intraocular Lenses With Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate: Randomized Comparison After 1 Year

To evaluate the interim 1 year postoperatively results of a randomized prospective study designed to assess long-term clarity 3 years after implantation of hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lenses (IOLs) with hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). 

Miyata Eye Clinic and Miyata Eye Hospital, Japan

For 120 eyes of 120 participants, one-piece Clareon IOLs with HEMA (SY60WF, Alcon, group C) or one-piece hydrophobic acrylic Vivinex IOLs (XY1, Hoya, group V) were randomly implanted during cataract surgery. Up to 1 year after surgery, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), developments of posterior capsule opacification (PCO) and microvacuoles (MVs) as glistenings, and densitometry of IOL central surface (Pentacam) were examined. PCO was quantitatively evaluated using EPCO 2000 software and MVs were counted within a 15 mm (length) x 4 mm (width) area in slit-lamp microscopy. Outcomes were compared between groups. 

There were 114 eyes eligible for comparison (56 and 58 eyes for group C and V , respectively). At 1 year postoperatively, the mean BCVA was -0,08 (SD: 0.08) logMAR in group C and -0,08 (SD: 0.07) logMAR in group V. PCO was found in 16 and 14 eyes in group C and V, respectively; one eye in each group underwent Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy at 258 and 420 days after surgery. MVs were found in only three eyes in group C and two eyes in group V, while the numbers of MVs were 3 or less. The mean densitometry was 3.74% and 3.62% in group C and V, respectively. There was no significant difference between groups in any examination. 

Postoperative BCVA, and the developments of PCO, glistenings, and surface light scattering, were comparable between the two IOLs. Clarity after implanting Clareon IOLs with HEMA was well sustained during 1 year.