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Small refractive changes may occur long-term after cataract surgery
According to researchers, long-term changes in refraction after cataract surgery resulted from natural fluctuations in corneal curvature rather than from the IOL position shift.
In 59 eyes of 59 patients a mean age of 70.7 years, the repeatability coefficient of IOL positions measurements taken at 1 month, 3 months and 1 year postoperative was 0.03 mm at all visits.
The repeatability coefficient of corneal curvature measurements was 0.07 mm at 1 month and 3 months postoperatively and 0.06 mm at 1 year, according to researchers.
Researchers found a mean posterior shift of the IOL from 4.107 mm at 1 month to 4.139 mm at 1 year, with a mean shift of 0.033 mm.
Postoperatively, the mean corneal curvature was 7.722 mm, 7.728 mm and 7.727 mm at 1 month, 3 months and 1 year, respectively. Researchers found no statistically significant change during the follow-up.
Median absolute refractive shift was 0.25 D. Median calculated absolute refractive effect of the IOL position shift was 0.05 D and of the corneal curvature change was 0.17 D. The median calculated absolute refractive effect of both IOL position shift and corneal curvature change was 0.19 D.
The researchers wrote that measured refractive shift could not be explained by changes in IOL position; however, the measured refractive shift correlated well with changes in corneal curvature.
They concluded that long-term changes in refraction are mainly caused by changes in corneal curvature, while the role of IOL position shift is limited. Furthermore, researchers found no correlation between the measured change in refraction and the IOL position shift. – by Abigail Sutton
Disclosure: The researchers reported no relevant financial disclosures.