Comparison of Anterior Capsule Stability Following Implantation of Three Single Piece Acrylic Intraocular Lenses with Different Haptic Design

PURPOSE: To compare the anterior capsule contraction and intraocular lens (IOL) decentration among three types of IOL to determine the influence of haptic design on anterior capsule stability. METHODS: One hundred fifty patients were enrolled in this prospective, randomized study and 260 eyes underwent implantation of one of the following IOLs: modified L-haptic IOL (n = 74), modified C-haptic IOL (n = 97), or a plate-haptic IOL (n = 89). The area of the anterior capsule opening, IOL decentration, and capsule overlap were measured using retroillumination photospot 1 day and 2 months after cataract surgery. RESULTS: The area of capsule opening at postoperative day 1 was significantly different between the three IOLs (p < 0.01). All IOLs showed reduction of the anterior capsule opening from 1 day to 2 months after surgery, and greater reduction was shown in the modified C-haptic IOL (p < 0.001). At postoperative month 2, IOL decentration was significantly different between the IOLs and showed a positive correlation with the mean area reduction during month 2. CONCLUSIONS: The degree of anterior capsule contraction and IOL decentration in modified L-haptic IOLs were less than those in modified C-haptic IOLs and comparable to those in plate-haptic IOLs.