Influence of a capsular tension ring on ocular aberrations after cataract surgery: a comparative study

To evaluate the effects of a capsular tension ring on ocular and corneal aberrations after cataract surgery.

In this prospective, randomized, contralateral eye study, 20 patients who underwent bilateral cataract surgery were divided into two groups: eyes that received the capsular tension ring (CTR group) and fellow eyes that did not receive the capsular tension ring (IOL group). Total optical aberrations were measured 3 months postoperatively. Ocular and corneal aberrations were analyzed to determine whether statistically significant differences were present between groups.

In the CTR group, the root-mean-square (RMS) for total aberrations and total higher order aberrations were 2.13+/-1.17 microm and 1.01+/-0.89 microm, respectively. The RMS for tilt, coma, trefoil, and spherical aberration were 1.05+/-0.65 microm, 0.45+/-0.32 microm, 0.47+/-0.19 microm, and 0.31+/-0.12 microm, respectively. In the IOL group, the RMS coefficient for total aberrations and total higher order aberrations were 2.01+/-1.30 microm and 0.88+/-0.34 microm, respectively. The RMS for tilt, coma, trefoil, and spherical aberration were 0.58+/-0.35 microm, 0.29+/-0.18 microm, 0.49+/-0.26 microm, and 0.32+/-0.21 microm, respectively. Tilt was statistically significantly higher in the CTR group compared with the IOL group (P=.0009). Postoperatively, there were no other differences between groups (P>.05).

The use of the capsular tension ring caused an increase in tilt aberration after cataract surgery and does not seem to improve the optical performance of conventional intraocular lenses after uneventful cataract surgery.