Long-term Staar Toric Intraocular Lens Rotational Stability

Purpose

To evaluate the long-term rotational stability of Staar toric intraocular lens (IOL) implants from two weeks after cataract surgery until two weeks after laser posterior capsulotomy.

Design

Retrospective interventional case series.

Methods

One hundred and fifteen eyes of 72 patients were implanted with Staar toric IOL models AA4203TF and AA4203TL (Staar Surgical Co, Monrovia, California, USA) between November 1998 and November 2004. Forty-two (36.5%) of the 115 eyes underwent laser capsulotomy because of clinically significant posterior capsule opacification. Slit-lamp retroillumination photographs were obtained in 25 eyes two weeks after cataract surgery and again two weeks after capsulotomy to document IOL axis alignment.

Results

The mean difference in axis alignment before and after posterior capsulotomy was 1.36 degrees. In no case did the axis change more than 5 degrees. This amount is within the expected range of measurement error using a slit-lamp photographic technique for axis measurement.

Conclusion

There are no long-term changes in Staar toric IOL axis orientation beyond the two-week postoperative time point after cataract surgery. The rotational stability extends through laser posterior capsulotomy.