Intraocular Lens Complications: Decentration, Uveitis-Glaucoma-Hyphema Syndrome, Opacification, and Refractive Surprises

LONG-TERM OUTCOME OF TRANSSCLERAL FOUR-POINT FIXATION OF AKREOS INTRAOCULAR LENS WITH CLOSED CONTINUOUS-LOOP SUTURE

PURPOSE

To report the long-term clinical outcomes of transscleral four-point fixation of Akreos intraocular lens using a closed continuous-loop suture technique.

METHODS

This was a retrospective, multicenter, interventional case series. Primary outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, corneal endothelial cell density, and complications with a minimum of 1-year follow-up.

RESULTS

One hundred and ninety-two eyes of 177 patients from two surgical hospital sites were identified. The mean best-corrected visual acuity improved from 0.88 ± 0.74 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (Snellen 20/152) preoperatively to 0.42 ± 0.52 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (Snellen 20/53) postoperatively ( P < 0.001). The mean preoperative intraocular pressure was 17.51 ± 8.67 mmHg, and the mean postoperative intraocular pressure at final follow-up was 15.08 ± 4.18 mmHg ( P = 0.001). The mean corneal endothelial cell density significantly reduced from 2,259 ± 729 cells/mm 2 to 2077 ± 659 cells/mm 2 , representing a cell loss of 5.73% ( P < 0.001). The intraocular lens was fixed well during follow-up. There were no intraoperative complications noted. Postoperative complications included transient ocular hypertension in 15 eyes (7.81%), hypotony in two eyes (1.04%), retinal detachment in one eye (0.52%), and macular edema in one eye (0.52%).

CONCLUSION

The transscleral four-point fixation Akreos intraocular lens using the closed continuous-loop suture technique was effective and safe with satisfactory visual acuity with a minimum of 1-year follow-up.

Automated expert-level scleral spur detection and quantitative biometric analysis on the ANTERION anterior segment OCT system

AIM

To perform an independent validation of deep learning (DL) algorithms for automated scleral spur detection and measurement of scleral spur-based biometric parameters in anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) images.

METHODS

Patients receiving routine eye care underwent AS-OCT imaging using the ANTERION OCT system (Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany). Scleral spur locations were marked by three human graders (reference, expert and novice) and predicted using DL algorithms developed by Heidelberg Engineering that prioritise a false positive rate <4% (FPR4) or true positive rate >95% (TPR95). Performance of human graders and DL algorithms were evaluated based on agreement of scleral spur locations and biometric measurements with the reference grader.

RESULTS

1308 AS-OCT images were obtained from 117 participants. Median differences in scleral spur locations from reference locations were significantly smaller (p<0.001) for the FPR4 (52.6±48.6 µm) and TPR95 (55.5±50.6 µm) algorithms compared with the expert (61.1±65.7 µm) and novice (79.4±74.9 µm) graders. Intergrader reproducibility of biometric measurements was excellent overall for all four (intraclass correlation coefficient range 0.918-0.997). Intergrader reproducibility of the expert grader (0.567-0.965) and DL algorithms (0.746-0.979) exceeded that of the novice grader (0.146-0.929) for images with narrow angles defined by OCT measurement of angle opening distance 500 µm anterior to the scleral spur (AOD500)<150 µm.

CONCLUSIONS

DL algorithms on the ANTERION approximate expert-level measurement of scleral spur-based biometric parameters in an independent patient population. These algorithms could enhance clinical utility of AS-OCT imaging, especially for evaluating patients with angle closure and performing intraocular lens calculations.

An analysis of the factors involved in IOL decentration after phacoemulsification using CASIA 2 anterior segment optical coherence tomography

PURPOSE

To evaluate the magnitude of IOL transversal shift (ITS) after phacoemulsification and to analyse the factors contributing to IOL decentration and ITS.

METHODS

94 consecutive patients who underwent cataract surgery and IOL implantation was enrolled. Each patient underwent anterior segment optical coherence tomography with CASIA 2 (Tomey, Nagoya, Japan) to assess crystalline lens decentration, thickness and diameter seven days preoperatively and at one and sixty days postoperatively. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analysis were performed to evaluate the determinants of ITS and final decentration.

RESULTS

The preoperative crystalline lens diameter was associated with the ITS and with the IOL final decentration. A positive association between the final IOL decentration and the first post-surgical day decentration was found (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Greater crystalline lens diameter was associated with greater decentration and with greater ITS. Day-one IOL decentration seems to be the main determinant of final IOL decentration.

Refractive index adjustable intraocular lens design to achieve diopter control for improving the treatment of ametropia after cataract surgery

Intraocular lens (IOL) implantation is currently the most effective clinical treatment for cataracts. Nevertheless, due to the growth of the eye axis in patients with congenital cataracts during the process of growth and development, the progressive incapacity of an IOL with a fixed focus does not meet the demands of practical usage, leading to the occurrence of ametropia. This work describes an innovative class of an IOL bulk material that offers good biosafety and light-controlled refractive index adjustment. Acrylate materials were synthesized for the preparation of IOLs by free radical polymerization of ethylene glycol phenyl ether methacrylate (EGPEMA), hydrophilic monomer 2-(2-ethoxyethoxy) ethyl acrylate (EA), and functional monomer hydroxymethyl coumarin methacrylate (CMA). Under 365/254 nm ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, the coumarin group could adjust the polymer material's refractive index through reversible photoinduced dimerization/depolymerization. Meanwhile, the potential for the IOL use is enabled by its satisfactory biosafety. Such a light-induced diopter adjustable IOL will be more appropriate for implantation during cataract surgery since it will not require the correction needed for ametropia and will offer more accurate and humane treatment. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE.

UGH Syndrome Resolution after IOL Explantation and Concomitant Carlevale IOL Implantation

OBJECTIVE

To examine the use of Carlevale IOL placement in patients with UGH, and to evaluate surgical outcomes.

DESIGN

In this retrospective study, 28 patients with UGH syndrome that were subjected to IOL explantation and concomitant Carlevale IOL implantation were included in the study.

METHODS

Information about VA, IOP, number of glaucoma medication, need for glaucoma surgery, presence of hemorrhage and inflammation were recorded up to 6 months after the procedure.

RESULTS

We found a statistically significant increase in mean visual acuity and complete resolution of uveitis in all patients. Mean IOP and the mean number of glaucoma medications were significantly decreased postoperatively, while 14% of patients required additional glaucoma surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

IOL explantation and concomitant Carlevale IOL implantation may provide a viable solution for UGH syndrome resolution, increases visual acuity, and decreases the need for glaucoma medication.

3D monitoring of the microphase separations inside the intraocular lens

Glistenings often occur after implanting the intraocular lens (IOL) due to the formation of numerous microvacuoles (MVs) and may lead to deterioration of vision quality. Previous studies showed the formation of MVs was associated with the hydrophobicity of IOL materials. Yet, the mechanism remains an open question due to the complexity of IOL polymer networks. In this study, two commercialized IOLs with similar hydrophobicity are found distinct in the formation of MVs. The 3D growth kinetics of MVs during cooling processes are captured for the first time by digital holographic microscopy (DHM) and the components of MVs are measured by DHM and Raman spectroscopy. The results reveal that the growth of MVs stems from the microphase separation of water and surrounding IOL polymers. A polymer swelling model is thus proposed to describe the microphase separation process which is found dependent on the elasticity of IOL polymer networks. The total volume of MVs is determined by the IOL hydrophobicity, while the elastic force of IOL polymer networks determines the number density and size of MVs. This study demonstrates an approach for characterizing the phase separation of crosslinked polymeric materials in biosystems and sheds lights on the refinement of IOL materials. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Glistenings due to the formation of numerous microvacuoles (MVs) in intraocular lens (IOL) can occur after IOL implantation, which may induce poor quality of vision. However, the underlying mechanism of MVs formation is still an open question. This study establishes an in-situ 3D imaging platform to monitor growth kinetics of the MVs in IOLs, which allows to uncover the mechanism of glistenings formation resulting from the microphase separation. The findings imply the material hydrophobicity influences the total volume of MVs, while the local elasticity of IOL polymer networks determines the number density and the size of MVs. This study offers a new approach for characterizing phase separation in crosslinking biosystems and sheds lights on the refinement of IOL materials.

Changes in Intraocular Lens Explantation Indications and Comparison of Various Explantation Techniques

PURPOSE

To examine the current causes of intraocular lens (IOL) explantation, compare various IOL explantation techniques, and assess the visual outcomes and complications.

DESIGN

Retrospective comparative case series.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 175 eyes of 160 patients who underwent IOL exchange for a one-piece foldable acrylic IOL between January 2010 and March 2022 were covered by the research. Group 1 included 74 eyes from 69 patients in which the IOL was removed after being grasped, pulled, and refolded inside the main incision. Group 2 consisted of 66 eyes from 60 patients in which the IOL was removed by bisecting it, whereas group 3 included 35 eyes from 31 patients in which the IOL was removed by enlarging the main incision.

MAIN OUTCOMES

Surgical indications, interventions, visual outcomes and refraction, and complications.

RESULTS

The mean patient age was 66.1 ± 10.5 years. The mean time between primary surgery and IOL explantation was 57.0 ± 38.9 months. IOL dislocation (in 85 eyes, 49.5%) was the most common reason for IOL explantation. When the patients were examined in terms of both surgical indication groups and IOL removal techniques, corrected-distance visual acuity increased significantly in all subgroups (P < .001). The increase in astigmatism after surgery was 0.08 ± 0.13 diopters (D) in group 1, 0.09 ± 0.17 D in group 2, and 0.83 ± 0.29 D in group 3 (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

The grasp, pull, and refold technique for IOL explantation provides a simpler surgery, less complication, and good visual outcomes.

Assessment of refractive outcomes in eyes that underwent intraocular lens implantation in the posterior chamber but not "in-the-capsular bag:" A comparative retrospective study

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to report visual and refractive outcomes in eyes that underwent intraocular lens (IOL) fixation in the absence of capsular support.

METHODS

This was a retrospective chart review of cases undergoing posterior chamber iris-fixated IOL (IFIOL) and scleral-fixated IOL (SFIOL) implants from June 2014 to March 2020 with more than 3 months of follow-up and having a preoperative best-corrected visual acuity of 20/80 and more.

RESULTS

Records of 120 eyes of 112 patients were reviewed. The mean age of the patients was 46.9 ± 22.3 (14.4-98.0) years, and 62% (n = 70) of participants were male. Most of the eyes (102: 85%) were aphakic at the time of surgery. The mean follow-up was 22.95 ± 17.1 months. The efficacy index of sutured IFIOL and glued SFIOL outperformed sutured SFIOL at 3 months and final visits postoperatively (P < 0.001). All techniques studied here resulted in a similar safety index at 3 months (P = 0.4). The mean predictive error (postoperative spherical equivalent refraction minus intended target refraction) was +0.07 ± 1.5 D and -0.12 ± 1.4 D at 3 months and the final postoperative visit, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The studied techniques have relatively good visual and refractive outcomes in this series. In addition, techniques involving a small corneal incision with foldable IOL fixation to the iris or scleral tissue have superior efficacy and safety indices compared to creating large corneoscleral wounds for rigid IOL fixation techniques.

FIL SSF intraocular lens opacification after pars plana vitrectomy with gas tamponade for traumatic lens luxation and retinal detachment: a case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

To report a case of sutureless scleral-fixated hydrophilic intraocular lens (FIL SSF IOL, Soleko, Italy) opacification following pars plana vitrectomy surgery using sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) for traumatic lens luxation associated with retinal detachment.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 77-year-old woman was referred to our emergency department after blunt trauma in her right eye. At the ophthalmic evaluation, visual acuity was hand movement, biomicroscopy showed pseudoexfoliation syndrome and a traumatic lens luxation in the vitreous chamber. The patient underwent pars plana vitrectomy, subluxated cataract explantation, and FIL SSF IOL implant. During surgery, an inferior retinal detachment was encountered, requiring 20% SF6 gas tamponade. No adverse events were encountered. One month postoperatively, visual acuity (BCVA) improved to 0,3 logMAR. At the 3-month follow-up, the patient presented with BCVA of 0,5 logMAR, and biomicroscopy showed a minimal IOL opacification. Six months postoperatively, BCVA decreased to 1.0 logMAR, and diffuse, IOL opacification was noted at slit lamp examination. The patient refused any other surgical intervention for IOL exchange.

CONCLUSIONS

Although hydrophilic IOL opacification gas related is known, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first case reported in the literature of FIL SSF IOL opacification after pars plana vitrectomy with gas tamponade for retinal detachment.

Glistening on intraocular lenses: A review

The glistening in intraocular lenses (IOLs) is a phenomenon in which tiny water-filled microvacuoles (MVs) form within the IOL material, causing light to scatter and create a sparkling or shimmering effect. The presence of glistening is common in many types of IOL materials and models and has been extensively studied in recent years to determine its incidence, risk factors, evolution, and possible clinical relevance. Classically, it has been studied in vitro in the laboratory or by means of photography obtained with a slit lamp, but these were techniques that required either specific technology or an expert explorer, complex image processing, and required a lot of time. In recent years, proposals based on the Scheimpflug camera and optical coherence tomography have emerged to try to simplify the analysis of glistening in IOLs. It has been described that the manufacturing process, the hydrophobic acrylic material, or the time since surgery are risk factors for the appearance of glistening. In addition, many issues related to this phenomenon are still unknown, such as not knowing from what number of points or their size they may have relevance to visual function since different optical phenomena related to glistening have been described on the IOLs.

The effect of hypotensive drugs on intraocular lenses clarity

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effect of hypotensive drugs on light absorbance, discoloration, opacification and precipitate formation of IOLs.

METHODS

In this laboratory study, four types of IOLs (two hydrophilic-acrylic-L1 and L2, and two hydrophobic-acrylic-B1 and B2) were soaked in solutions containing Timolol-maleate 0.5%, Dorzolamide 2%, Brimonidine-tartrate 0.2%, Latanoprost 0.005%, Brimonidine-tartrate/Timolol-maleate 0.2%/0.5% and Dorzolamide/Timolol-maleate 2%/0.5%. Non-treated IOLs and IOLs soaked in balanced salt solution (BSS) served as controls. All Treated lenses were sealed in containers and placed in an oven at 82 degrees Celsius for 120 days. Each IOL was examined using four different techniques: light microscopy imaging, light absorbance measurements at 550 nanometers through the optic's center, assessment of by a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and energy dispersive Xray spectrometry (EDX).

RESULTS

Ninety-eight IOLs were included. All BSS-soaked IOLs appeared clear with no significant discoloration or precipitate-formation. Light absorbance in these lenses was comparable to that of non-soaked, non-heated IOLs. No calcium or phosphate were detected in either of these groups. Light absorbance differed significantly between the four treated IOL types. The drops most affecting light absorbance differed between IOLs. Gross examination revealed brown and yellow discoloration of all IOLs soaked in Dorzolamide and Brimonidine-tartrate solutions, respectively. SEM demonstrated precipitates that differed in size, morphology and distribution, between different IOL-solution combinations. EDX's demonstrated the presence calcium and phosphor in the majority of precipitates and the presence of sulfur in brown discolored IOLs.

CONCLUSIONS

In vitro, interactions between hypotensive drugs and IOLs induce changes in light absorbance, discoloration and precipitate formation.

Intraocular lens tilt due to optic-haptic junction distortion following intrascleral haptic fixation with the Yamane technique

Purpose

To report two patients with a complication of Yamane intrascleral haptic fixation surgery (ISHF) with the Zeiss CT Lucia 602 lens: severely tilted intraocular lens (IOL) leading to significantly decreased vision in the early post-operative period.

Observations

We report two patients presenting with severely tilted IOL implants one day and one month following Yamane ISHF. The first patient is a monocular 81-year-old woman referred for treatment of cornea edema. Initial surgery involved replacement of an anterior chamber lens with a CT Lucia 602 posterior chamber lens using Yamane technique and Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty. The patient returned at one month follow-up with poor vision and IOL tilt observable at the slit lamp through a peripheral iridectomy site. Explanation of the Zeiss lens revealed haptic distortion at the optic-haptic insertion point such that each haptic was about 45° off axis to the plane of the optic in approximately equal and opposite directions. The second patient, a 75-year-old woman, was referred with a completely dislocated lens-bag complex in the right eye. The initial operative treatment for this patient included pars plana vitrectomy, retrieval and removal of the dislocated lens-bag complex, and placement of a Zeiss 602 lens via Yamane ISHF technique. On the first postoperative day, the patient was count fingers in the right eye with an intraocular pressure of 5 mm Hg and obvious IOL tilt on slit lamp examination. Explanation of the lens revealed severely distorted haptics relative to the optic by more than a 60-degree angle on both sides. In both cases, initial surgery was performed with an IOL inspected prior to implantation and found to have normal appearing haptics. At the end of each case, there was adequate centration and no tilt of the IOL. Management in both patients included removal of the defective lens and placement of a new, same power CT Lucia 602 lens via the Yamane technique. Visual acuity improved from CF to 20/30 best corrected after reoperation in both cases.

Conclusions and importance

In summary, we describe a complication of Yamane ISHF with the CT Lucia 602 lens in which there is lens tilting associated with distortion at the optic-haptic fastening zone in the early postoperative period. In the event of a titled lens following Yamane ISHF, awareness of this complication may help surgeons consider lens replacement, as the haptics may be permanently distorted or damaged.

Objective Classification of Glistening in Implanted Intraocular Lenses Using Optical Coherence Tomography: Proposal for a New Classification and Grading System

Purpose: To propose a classification of the glistening in intraocular lenses (IOL) using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) by means of a simple, objective and reproducible method that allows the quantification of the presence and severity of glistening. Methods: A cross-sectional study on a sample of 150 eyes of 150 patients who underwent cataract surgery in at least 600 days before the exam and attended a routine examination. Each subject was examined by SS-OCT after pupil dilation, identifying the presence of glistening or hyperreflective foci (HRF) in the central area of the IOL. The degree of glistening was classified into four categories: 0: ≤5 HRF; 1: 6 to 15 HRF; 2: 16 to 30 HRF; and 3: >30 HRF. The intra and interobserver reproducibility (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC) in the quantification and classification of the glistening were calculated. The correlation between the horizontal and vertical scan of the IOL was also assessed. Results: Glistening was present in the IOL in 42.7% of the patients. The mean number of HRF or glistening microvacuoles was 10.4 ± 26.2 (range 0 to 239). In total, 63.3% of the IOLs had a grade 0, 20% grade a 1, 6.7% grade a 2 and 10% a grade 3. The intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility were very high, both for the absolute quantification of the glistening (ICC ≥ 0.994) and for the severity scale (ICC ≥ 0.967). There was an excellent correlation in the quantification of the IOL glistening between the horizontal and vertical scans (R ≥ 0.834; p < 0.001). Conclusions: The use of SS-OCT makes it possible to identify, quantify and classify IOL glistening in a simple, objective and reproducible way. This technique could provide relevant information for the study of the glistening on IOLs.

Beyond vision:Cataract and health status in old age, a narrative review

Cataract is a leading cause of visual impairment in old age. Lens opacification is notoriously associated with several geriatric conditions, including frailty, fall risk, depression and cognitive impairment. The association is largely attributable to visual impairment, while other mechanisms, associated with extraocular comorbidity and lifestyle, might partly explain this correlation. Available literature suggests that cataract surgery may be effective in decreasing fall risk, improving depressive symptoms and limiting the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia incidence, although intervention studies on these outcomes are still limited. In this review we also emphasize the need to move from the concept of visual acuity to functional vision, especially in the context of the geriatric patient. Research is needed regarding the effect on the cited outcomes of different cataract treatment strategies, such as systematic bilateral versus monolateral surgery and use of different intraocular lenses.

Unexpected Poor Vision within 24 h of Uneventful Phacoemulsification Surgery-A Review

Review on day one post uneventful phacoemulsification surgery is no longer standard practice due to the infrequency of complications when using modern cataract removal techniques. Clinicians are therefore likely to be unfamiliar with the potential causes of reduced vision when presented with a patient in the immediate postoperative period. The purpose of this review is to discuss the various differential causes of early visual loss, for the benefit of clinicians presented with similar patients in emergency care, with the use of an illustrative clinical case of paracentral acute middle maculopathy (PAMM), which recently presented to the authors. A thorough literature search on Google Scholar was conducted, and only causes of visual loss that would manifest within 24 h postoperatively were included. Complications are inherently rare in this period; however, various optical, anterior segment, lens-related and posterior segment causes have been identified and discussed. Front-line clinicians should be aware of these differentials with different mechanisms. PAMM remains to be the only cause of unexpected visual loss within this time frame that may have no abnormal findings on clinical examination.

Blue-light filtering intraocular implants and darker irises reduce the behavioral effects of higher-order ocular aberrations

PURPOSE

Higher order ocular aberrations (e.g., entopic scatter) arising from cornea and lens, decreases retinal image contrast by dispersing part of the image-forming optics over a broad retinal surface. Selective filtering of the light that is most susceptible to aberration (high-energy "blue" light) may reduce some of the behavioral effects. This was tested by comparing the performance of a blue-light filtering (BLF) vs a clear intraocular lens implant (IOL).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

52 participants with IOL (BLF: AlconSN60AT; clear: AlconSA60AT; N = 98 test eyes; M = 67.33 ± 7.48 years; 58.8% Female; 25.5% non-White) were recruited. Our outcome measure was based on the minimum resolvable distance between two points of light (two-point thresholds), formed using broadband xenon or isolated short-wave energy (425 nm). Iris color was measured by visual inspection and comparison against standard images.

RESULTS

In the broadband condition, patients with BLF IOL had smaller two-point thresholds (M = 17.17 ± 5.71 mm; F_[1,48]=2.60; p = 0.045) than clear controls (M = 20.93 ± 10.22 mm). Similar improvements were found in the short-wave condition (M_BLF=17.02 ± 5.30; M_clear=21.42 ± 10.99; p = 0.04). In the contralateral broadband comparison, eyes with the BLF had significantly smaller two-point thresholds (M = 18.10 ± 10.47 mm; t=-2.90, p < 0.001) than the clear IOL (M = 20.89 ± 10.61 mm). Similar effects were seen in the short-wave condition (M_BLF=18.23 ± 9.88; M_clear=21.06 ± 10.47; p = 0.001). Darker iris color was related to reduced scatter across IOL types, in both shortwave (F_[2,48]=4.62, p = 0.02) and broadband (F_[2,48]=5.27, p = 0.009) conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

Anterior screening, be it by a darker iris or a BLF IOL, is directly related to decreases in two-point light thresholds.

Classification Tree to Analyze Factors Connected with Post Operative Complications of Cataract Surgery in a Teaching Hospital

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming ever more frequently applied in medicine and, consequently, also in ophthalmology to improve both the quality of work for physicians and the quality of care for patients. The aim of this study is to use AI, in particular classification tree, for the evaluation of both ocular and systemic features involved in the onset of complications due to cataract surgery in a teaching hospital. Methods: The charts of 1392 eyes of 1392 patients, with a mean age of 71.3 ± 8.2 years old, were reviewed to collect the ocular and systemic data before, during and after cataract surgery, including post-operative complications. All these data were processed by a classification tree algorithm, producing more than 260 million simulations, aiming to develop a predictive model. Results: Postoperative complications were observed in 168 patients. According to the AI analysis, the pre-operative characteristics involved in the insurgence of complications were: ocular comorbidities, lower visual acuity, higher astigmatism and intra-operative complications. Conclusions: Artificial intelligence application may be an interesting tool in the physician’s hands to develop customized algorithms that can, in advance, define the post-operative complication risk. This may help in improving both the quality and the outcomes of the surgery as well as in preventing patient dissatisfaction.

Classification Tree to Analyze Factors Connected with Post Operative Complications of Cataract Surgery in a Teaching Hospital

BACKGROUND

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming ever more frequently applied in medicine and, consequently, also in ophthalmology to improve both the quality of work for physicians and the quality of care for patients. The aim of this study is to use AI, in particular classification tree, for the evaluation of both ocular and systemic features involved in the onset of complications due to cataract surgery in a teaching hospital.

METHODS

The charts of 1392 eyes of 1392 patients, with a mean age of 71.3 ± 8.2 years old, were reviewed to collect the ocular and systemic data before, during and after cataract surgery, including post-operative complications. All these data were processed by a classification tree algorithm, producing more than 260 million simulations, aiming to develop a predictive model.

RESULTS

Postoperative complications were observed in 168 patients. According to the AI analysis, the pre-operative characteristics involved in the insurgence of complications were: ocular comorbidities, lower visual acuity, higher astigmatism and intra-operative complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Artificial intelligence application may be an interesting tool in the physician's hands to develop customized algorithms that can, in advance, define the post-operative complication risk. This may help in improving both the quality and the outcomes of the surgery as well as in preventing patient dissatisfaction.

Repositioning surgery of different intraocular lens designs in eyes with late in-the-bag intraocular lens dislocation

PURPOSE

To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety after intraocular lens (IOL) repositioning by scleral suturing of 1-piece IOL compared with other IOL designs in the treatment of late in-the-bag IOL dislocation.

SETTING

Patients referred to Oslo University Hospital Oslo, Norway.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

METHODS

The study comprised 54 patients (54 eyes) with late in-the-bag IOL dislocation treated with IOL repositioning by scleral sutures (10-0 polypropylene). All operations were performed with an anterior approach and by 1 surgeon. The following IOL designs were repositioned: 1-piece foldable (n = 17), 3-piece foldable (n = 28), plate-haptic (n = 8), and 1-piece rigid (n = 1) IOLs. Patients were evaluated comprehensively preoperatively and at 6 months (80%), 1 year (67%), and 2 years (61%) postoperatively. The main outcome measures were efficacy regarding corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) and spherical equivalent (SE) and safety regarding complications.

RESULTS

Postoperative visual acuity was similar for different IOL designs. The mean SE change to final observation was -0.08 (95% CI, -0.93 to 0.77) in the 1-piece IOL group (n = 11) and -0.98 (-1.73 to -0.23) in the 3-piece IOL group (n = 18) (P = .11). Regarding safety, no patients had uveitis-glaucoma-hyphema syndrome, retinal detachment, or endophthalmitis. The 3-piece IOL group had 1 case of redislocation and 1 case of iritis. No patients had symptoms related to clinical IOL decentration. Long-term intraocular pressure remained within normal limits with overlapping 95% CIs for different IOLs.

CONCLUSIONS

Repositioning surgery of 1-piece IOLs seems as efficient and safe as that for other IOL designs in the treatment of late in-the-bag IOL dislocation.

Analysis of opacification patterns in intraocular lenses (IOL)

Objective

Intraocular lens (IOL) opacification may cause severe visual impairment. The pathogenesis remains unclear. The aim of this study was to analyse opacification patterns in different IOLs. Therefore, this multicentre, retrospective, observational study was conducted at Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany and University-Hospital Basel, Switzerland.

Methods and analysis

In this study, 75 opacified IOLs were identified and classified after extraction. Macroscopical photo documentation, light and electron microscopic analysis were done.

Results

68 acrylic-hydrophilic single-piece-IOLs, 1 acrylic-hydrophilic 3-piece-IOL, 6 acrylic-hydrophobic 3-piece-IOLs were extracted. The dataset comprised IOLs known for opacification and IOLs not having been reported yet. 67 IOLs showed a fine-granular and 8 IOLs a crust-like opacification pattern. According to literature, 62 of the fine-granular opacified IOLs were graded into type 1 (processing/packaging-induced primary opacification) and 13 into type 2 (secondary opacification of unknown aetiology). The anterior surface of the IOLs was affected in all 75 IOLs, the posterior surface only in 23 cases. Of all 67 fine-granular IOLs, 43 had a central defect and 21 had a zone without opacification (clear islet).

Conclusion

In our series, the morphology of IOL opacification did not follow the existing pathogenetic classification that strictly discriminates between primary and secondary causes. Fine-granular IOL opacification occurs with similar patterns in both type 1 and type 2 IOL opacification, while a crust-like pattern was only detected in type 2 IOL opacifications. Consequently, susceptibility of an IOL to opacification is caused by a multifactorial combination of material and processing properties as well as individual (pathological) conditions of the patient.