Background: A prospective, randomized study was performed to evaluate intra-individually the biocompatibility of foldable, highly refractive silicone and hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lenses (IOL).
Materials and methods: We studied 35 patients who underwent phacoemulsification using a self-sealing tunnel incision. In a randomized fashion one eye received a 6-mm optic IOL made of high-refractive index silicone (Allergan SI40NB) and the other eye a hydrophobic acrylic 6-mm optic IOL (Alcon AcrySof MA60BM). All patients were examined 7 days, 1-3 and 6 months, and 1 year postoperatively.
Results: The mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.9 +/- 0.12 vs. 0.89 +/- 0.13 (SI40NB vs. MA60BM) after 1-3 months. One-year postoperatively BCVA was still 0.9 +/- 0.12 vs. 0.87 +/- 0.14. The flare values (photon counts/ms) increased slightly 7 days after surgery (14.2 +/- 8.68 vs. 15.49 +/- 7.2, n.s.). Three months after surgery these values were again in the normal range. The mean IOL decentration was 0.29 +/- 0.14 vs. 0.3 +/- 0.15 mm 1 year postoperatively. Scheimpflug slit photography showed 40% of MA60BM IOLs to have "glistenings." No significant difference regarding posterior capsular opacification was found.
Conclusion: One year after implantation of foldable, highly refractive silicone and hydrophobic acrylic IOLs using a self-sealing tunnel incision and phacoemulsification, no significant functional or morphological differences between the two IOL types were observed.