Foldable toric intraocular lens for astigmatism correction in cataract patients.

PURPOSE To evaluate the results of AcrySof toric intraocular lens (IOL) (Alcon) implantation to correct preexisting astigmatism in patients having cataract surgery. SETTING Ophthalmology Service, Donostia Hospital, San Sebastián, Spain. METHODS This prospective observational study included 30 eyes of 15 consecutive patients with more than 1.00 diopter (D) of preexisting corneal astigmatism having cataract surgery. Bilateral implantation of the AcrySof toric IOL was performed after phacoemulsification. The uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), residual refractive sphere, residual keratometric and refractive cylinders, and toric IOL axis were measured. RESULTS The UCVA was 20/40 or better in 93.3% of eyes and 20/25 or better in 66.6%. All eyes achieved 20/25 or better BCVA. The mean refractive cylinder decreased significantly after surgery from -2.34 D +/- 1.28 (SD) to -0.72 +/- 0.43 D (P<.01). Vector analysis of attempted versus achieved correction showed that 100% of eyes were within +/-1.00 D and 80% and 93.9% were within +/-0.50 D for J(0) and J(45), respectively. The mean toric IOL axis rotation was 3.63 +/- 3.11 degrees, with rotation less than 10 degrees in 96.7% of eyes. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that phacoemulsification and posterior chamber AcrySof toric IOL implantation is an effective option to correct preexisting astigmatism in cataract surgery. The AcrySof toric IOL showed good rotational stability.