Prospective multicenter trial of a small-aperture intraocular lens in cataract surgery

To evaluate the clinical acceptability of monocular implantation of the small-aperture (IC-8) intraocular lens (IOL) in 1 eye and an aspheric monofocal IOL in the fellow eye of bilateral cataract patients over 6 months postoperatively.

Twelve clinics in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Norway.

Prospective case series.

The visual acuity, depth of focus, contrast sensitivity, patient satisfaction, visual symptoms, and adverse events were assessed in patients who had bilateral cataract surgery followed by implantation of the small-aperture IOL in 1 eye and an aspheric monofocal IOL in the fellow eye. Uncorrected distance (UDVA), intermediate (UIVA), and near (UNVA) visual acuities were reported in Snellen notation.

The study comprised 105 patients. At 6 months, the UDVA, UIVA, and UNVA in eyes with the small-aperture IOL were 20/23, 20/24, and 20/30, respectively. Ninety-nine percent, 95%, and 79% of patients achieved 20/32 or better binocular UDVA, UIVA, and UNVA, respectively. Ninety-three patients (95.9%) reported they would have the procedure again versus 4 patients (4.1%) who reported they would not have the procedure again. In eyes with the small-aperture IOL, the target-corrected defocus curve measured with 0.75 diopter (D) of myopia extended the range of functional near vision by an additional diopter without loss of distance vision compared with the distance-corrected defocus curves. The mean UIVA and UNVA remained at 20/25 and 20/32, respectively, for up to 1.5 D of residual astigmatism in eyes with the small-aperture IOL.

The small-aperture IOL showed excellent visual performance, safety, patient satisfaction, and tolerance to residual astigmatism 6 months after implantation.