Late opacification in hydrophilic acrylic intraocular lenses: analysis of 87 eyes in a random sample of 102 patients.

Purpose: To report the incidence of late postoperative opacification of a hydrophilic acrylic foldable intraocular lens (IOL).

Setting: Altino Ventura Foundation, Pernambuco, Brazil.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: Patients were examined 4 years after phacoemulsification with Ioflex IOL implantation in the rural areas of Pernambuco, Brazil, as part of a community campaign for underprivileged people. The patients had a detailed ophthalmic examination to detect late IOL opacification. The patients' charts were reviewed for preexisting ocular pathology and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) before and 1 month after surgery. The IOL opacification was classified according to its location and severity.

Results: All surgeries were uneventful intraoperatively and postoperatively. Six (7%) of the 87 eyes (58 patients) examined had a diagnosis of late IOL opacification; asteroid hyalosis and high myopia were associated ocular findings in 2 of the eyes. The preoperative CDVA ranged from hand motions (HM) to 20/80. The postoperative CDVA ranged from 20/20 to 20/40 except in 1 eye with posterior segment disease. Over the 4-year follow-up, 2 of the 6 eyes had a decrease in visual acuity to HM and 20/80, respectively, as a result of late IOL opacification. They had IOL replacement and CDVA improved to 20/60 and 20/20, respectively. A third eye with severe late opacification was not referred for IOL replacement because of macular disease.

Conclusion: Intraocular lens opacification was observed in 7% of the eyes studied. No risk factors could be determined.