Vitreous-stabilizing, single-piece, mini-loop, plate-haptic silicone intraocular lens

To evaluate the clinical and visual results of the Medevec VS5 intraocular lens (IOL) with mini-loops, determine the incision size required for its implantation and its usable optical zone size, and compare the sizes with those of other foldable lenses.

Ophthalmology Department, St. Johannes Hospitals, Dortmund, Germany.

The VS5 lens was folded with a forceps and implanted into an intact bag in 27 patients; incision size was measured. Postoperatively, centration was recorded after dilation and the lens periphery observed to ascertain whether the loops were fixed in the capsular bag. Postoperative A-scans were done in 22 eyes, and the preoperative and postoperative vitreous cavity lengths were compared. The size of the optical zone was compared with that of other foldable lenses.

Forceps implantation of the VS5 lens required a 2.7 to 3.0 mm incision; all lenses were fixated in the bag. A-scans in 22 eyes showed that the vitreous cavity was shortened by an average of 0.51 mm. Uncorrected visual acuity was 20/40 or better in 96% of eyes. One week postoperatively, the IOLs remained centered and there was no flare or cells. The usable optical zone was larger than that of the staked long-loop lenses.

The Medevec VS5 fixated in the bag, consistently locating in the posterior bag space and stabilizing the vitreous. It had a full 5.0 mm optical zone and could be implanted through an incision smaller that that required by other foldable IOLs.