Modified "C" Haptic Intraocular Lens Orientation and Negative Dysphotopsia

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Surgical Innovation
• Patient Outcomes

Background:

• Phacoemulsification is the standard cataract surgery, but negative dysphotopsia (ND) causes patient dissatisfaction.
• The etiology of ND is not fully understood, impacting postoperative satisfaction.
• Intraocular lens (IOL) haptic orientation is a proposed strategy to mitigate ND.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between IOL haptic orientation and the incidence of negative dysphotopsia (ND).
• To determine if specific IOL haptic positioning influences postoperative visual disturbances.
• To assess the impact of pupillary diameter on ND in relation to IOL placement.

Main Methods:

• Prospective interventional study involving 197 patients undergoing phacoemulsification.
• Implantation of a one-piece hydrophobic acrylic IOL with haptics in either inferotemporal (IT) or non-IT meridians.
• Assessment of ND incidence at week one and month one post-surgery, with pupillary diameter measurements.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant difference in ND incidence was found between groups based on IOL haptic orientation.
• Pupillary diameter did not show significant differences between patients with or without ND.
• ND incidence decreased from day 1 to month 1 post-surgery, irrespective of haptic position.

Conclusions:

• IOL haptic orientation does not correlate with the incidence of negative dysphotopsia.
• Negative dysphotopsia naturally decreases over time after cataract surgery.
• Haptic orientation should not be considered a primary intraoperative strategy for preventing ND.