NONCORNEAL ASTIGMATISM RELATED TO POLY(METHYL METHACRYLATE) AND PLATE-HAPTIC SILICONE INTRAOCULAR LENSES

Purpose: To evaluate noncorneal astigmatism after implantation of a on e-piece, plate-haptic silicone or one-piece poly(methyl methacrylate) PMMA intraocular lens (IOL). Setting: Klinik und Poliklinik fur Augenh eilkunde der Universitat Regensburg, Germany. Methods: After a follow- up of at least 3 months, the degree of postoperative noncorneal astigm atism was calculated using the data from an auto refractometer. Sixty patients were evaluated: 30 with silicone IOLs (Group A) and 30 with P MMA lenses (Group B). Results: Mean noncorneal astigmatism in Group A was 0.78 diopter (D) +/- 0.51 (SD), which was statistically significan tly higher than that in Group B (0.51 +/- 0.27 D) (P = .013). The high est noncorneal astigmatism, 2.32 D, occurred in Group A. Conclusions: Based on these findings, we recommend noncorneal astigmatism be consid ered in eyes with a one-piece, plate-haptic silicone IOL and postopera tive astigmatism. A prospective study with a standardized capsulorhexi s size is needed to ascertain whether this IOL-related noncorneal asti gmatism is caused by capsular shrinkage, which may then be treatable w ith a laser capsulotomy of the anterior capsule.