TILT AND DECENTRATION OF BAG-FIXATED INTRAOCULAR LENSES - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY BETWEEN CAPSULORHEXIS AND ENVELOPE TECHNIQUES

Malposition of an intraocular lens (IOL) may cause symptoms such as gl are, halos, and other visual aberrations. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of two different anterior capsulotomy techniq ues on IOL tilt and decentration. Bag-fixated IOL implantation after u ncomplicated extracapsular cataract extraction was performed using bot h envelope (65 eyes) and continuous circular capsulorhexis (CCC) techn ique (42 eyes). Eyes were followed-up at least 6 months postoperativel y. While the mean IOL decentration after envelope technique was found to be 0.65 mm, this was 0.15 mm after CCC technique. On the other hand , the mean actual tilting angle of IOL after envelope technique was 5. 66 degrees, whereas this was 1.13 degrees after CCC technique. The afo rementioned differences were statistically significant (p<0.01, and p< 0.01). Furthermore, in 17 eyes (26.1%) where envelope technique and in 29 (69.0%) eyes where CCC technique was used demonstrated no IOL tilt and decentration. This study shows that the CCC technique may result in less optical problems due to IOL malposition compared to the envelo pe technique.