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Slow IOL insertion may damage clear corneal wound structure
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Slow IOL insertion damaged the clear corneal wound structure significantly more than rapid IOL insertion, according to a study.
“Vertical stretching of the cartridge may lead to extensive stress being exerted on the wound because a cataract surgical incision is usually made transversely,” the study author said.
The prospective, randomized study included 80 eyes that underwent phacoemulsification and implantation of an AcrySof IQ IOL (Alcon) with a Monarch III screw plunger-type injector attached with a D cartridge (Alcon).
Forty eyes underwent fast insertion at one revolution per second, and 40 eyes underwent slow insertion at one-quarter revolution per second.
The investigator assessed change in wound size before and after IOL insertion, need for corneal hydration to seal the wound, surgically induced astigmatism and optical coherence tomography findings of the corneal wound structure.
Study results showed that the change in wound size was significantly greater in the slow insertion group than in the fast insertion group (P = .002).
Significantly more eyes in the slow insertion group required corneal hydration than eyes in the fast insertion group (P = .04). OCT images showed significantly more wound damage in the slow insertion group.
Further study using different incision designs, IOL types and injectors is warranted, the author said.
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