Effect of Co-Implantation of a Capsular Tension Ring on Clinical Outcomes after Cataract Surgery with Monofocal Intraocular Lens Implantation

PURPOSE The objective was to evaluate the effect of co-implantation of a preloaded capsular tension ring (CTR) and aberration-free monofocal intraocular lens (IOL) on clinical outcomes and visual quality after cataract surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients who underwent cataract surgery were randomized into two groups that were implanted with a CTR and IOL (group 1, 26 eyes) or an IOL only (group 2, 26 eyes). At 1 and 3 months after surgery, visual acuity, refractive errors, refractive prediction errors, ocular aberrations, and modulation transfer function (MTF) were analyzed. At 3 months postoperatively, anterior chamber depth (ACD) and contrast sensitivity were evaluated. RESULTS Group 1 showed greater hyperopic shift, which caused the refractive prediction error at 3 months after surgery to be significantly different between the two groups (p=0.049). Differences in ACD between the preoperative and postoperative periods tended to be greater in group 1 than in group 2. At 3 months postoperatively, internal MTF values at 20, 25, and 30 cycles per degree were significantly better in group 1 than in group 2 (p=0.034, 0.017, and 0.017, respectively). Contrast sensitivity showed comparable results at almost all spatial frequencies between the groups. CONCLUSION Regarding visual acuity and quality, both groups showed comparable results. Co-implantation of a CTR and aberration-free monofocal IOL was associated with hyperopic refractive outcomes. Surgeons should consider the position of the IOL when planning co-implantation of a CTR and IOL.