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Blue light–filtering IOLs effective as protection for AMD patients, study shows
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Patients with dry age-related macular degeneration may benefit from blue-light filtering intraocular lenses after cataract surgery, according to a study recently published in the European Journal of Ophthalmology.
Pipis and colleagues retrospectively analyzed data that had been collected from patients with AMD from the department of ophthalmology at Klinikum Karlsruhe.
The data included 66 eyes from 40 patients; 27 eyes were treated with a blue filter and 39 eyes were treated with a non-blue filter IOL.
As noted in the study, the blue filter IOLs were AcrySof SN60WF lenses (Alcon Laboratories) and the non-blue filter IOL came from several manufacturers.
Researchers utilized spectral-domain optical coherence tomography with Cirrus SD-OCT (Carl Zeiss Meditech) as well as the advanced retinal pigment epithelium analysis software tool to monitor patients for 1 year.
Results showed a statistically significant difference of the median and mean geographic atrophy progression between the two groups. The non-blue filter IOL group had a mean geographic atrophy progression of 1.48 ± 0.88 SD mm2 and median of 1.30 mm2; the blue filter IOL group had a mean geographic atrophy progression of 0.72 ± 0.39 SD mm2 and median of 0.70 mm2.
"The present study provides data that support the photoprotective role of blue filter IOL in halting or decreasing the progression of the atrophic form of dry AMD after cataract surgery," the authors concluded. "These data support the use of blue light–filtering IOLs as a means of protection for patients with AMD. It has been suggested that their use could be extended for patients of any age and especially those with a longer pseudophakic life such as pediatric and presbyopic lens exchange patients in order to decrease the risks resulting from prolonged exposure to blue light during their lifetime.
"This study did not test the visual performance of blue light–filtering IOLs or their effectiveness in different forms of AMD and other macular diseases," they continued. "More studies providing evidence in these fields are required to further clarify the role, indications and possible contraindications for the use of the blue light–filtering IOL in ophthalmic surgery."
Disclosures: The authors have no relevant financial disclosures.
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Eur J Ophthalmol. 2014; doi: 10.5301/ejo.5000520.
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