Comparative evaluation of rotational stability and visual outcome of toric intraocular lenses with and without a capsular tension ring

PURPOSE: To evaluate the rotational stability of toric intraocular lens (IOL) when co-implanted with a capsular tension ring (CTR) as compared to that of a toric IOL without a CTR. METHODS: This was a prospective randomized clinical trial performed in a tertiary care centre in India. Fifty adult human eyes with visually significant cataract and regular corneal astigmatism ≥1.5D divided into two groups of 25 eyes each, A and B by simple randomization. Eyes with corneal pathology, lens subluxation, and a specular endothelial cell count <2000/mm(2) were excluded from the study. The eyes in both the groups underwent standard phacoemulsification and were implanted with a toric IOL. In Group A, a CTR was put in the bag before IOL implantation. The groups were called for follow-up on day 1, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months, postoperatively. The axis of the toric IOL on each visit was measured by slit lamp imaging in retroillumination and analyzed digitally. RESULTS: Mean rotation of toric IOL at 3 months postoperatively was 1.85 ± 1.72° in Group A and 4.02 ± 2.04° in Group B. The difference was statistically significant (P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Coimplantation of a CTR is a safe and effective technique for ensuring better rotational stability of toric IOLs.