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UV exposure for light-adjustable IOL may not increase endothelial damage
J Cataract Refract Surg. 2011;37(12):2095-2100.
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Application of ultraviolet light for adjustment and lock-in of a light-adjustable IOL did not appear to adversely affect the corneal endothelium, a study found.
"The reported corneal endothelial cell loss was caused by cataract removal with phacoemulsification," the study authors said.
The prospective cohort study included 122 eyes of 81 patients who underwent phacoemulsification with implantation of the Light Adjustable Lens (Calhoun Vision).
The researchers used a digital light delivery device to administer doses of spatially profiled UV light at 365 nm to modify the lens curvature and produce targeted spherical and/or cylindrical refractive power. Lenses were treated a second time to lock in the desired lens power.
Patients underwent non-contact computer-assisted endothelial cell microscopy and corneal pachymetry preoperatively, postoperatively before lens adjustment, and at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after final lock-in.
Study results showed that mean postoperative endothelial cell loss was 6.91% before UV light exposure and 6.57% 12 months after final lock-in.
Endothelial cell counts diminished significantly between preoperative assessment and postoperative assessment before UV light exposure (P < .05). However, the decrease in counts between postoperative assessment and 1 year after final lock-in was insignificant.
Corneal thickness decreased 0.64% between preoperative assessment and 12 months after final lock-in.
"Endothelial cell loss and corneal thickness change 12 months after lock-in agreed well with those reported in the literature after phacoemulsification with IOL implantation," the authors said.