Posters

Predictability of intraocular lens power calculation in the presence of pterygium

Poster Details

First Author: A.Liaska GREECE

Co Author(s): T. Pallantzas   E. Makri   D. Mitsiou   S. Stamelou   K. Andrianopoulou        

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Pterygium often coexists with cataract in older patients who are about to have cataract operation. The presence of pterygium reduces the refractive accuracy of Intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation in such patients.In addition, the postoperative course of pterygium surgery may be troublesome in a significant degree overriding the otherwise smooth postoperative course of an uneventful cataract surgery. The aim of the study is to examine the feasibility and the accuracy of IOL power calculation in the presence of pterygium in patients undergoing phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation.

Setting:

Department of Ophthalmology, General Hospital of Lamia, Lamia, Greece

Methods:

retrospective chart review of 53 patients (36 men, 67-85 years old and 17 women, 72-87 years old) with visually significant cataract and pterygium large enough to affect the keratometric values in the horizontal axis. IOL power calculation was performed using the keratometric value of the steep axis considering the presence and the type of astigmatism as well as the IOL power calculation in the fellow eye. Anisometropia patients were excluded. The refractive target was emmetropia or low myopia. The patients underwent phacoemulsification with IOL implantation (without pterygium removal) and preoperative and postoperative Visual Acuity (logMAR) and refractive correction were recorded.

Results:

logMAR was significantly improved from 1.0 to 0.4 (median 0.8) preoperatively to 0.2-0 postoperatively (p<0.001). 43/53 of the patients were within the target refraction. Postoperative astigmatism varied from 0.5 to 1.0 D.

Conclusions:

phacoemulsification with IOL implantation without pterygium removal is safe and effective in eyes with medium sized pterygia and visually significant cataract. Specific modifications in IOL power calculation taking into consideration the status of the fellow eye may be necessary in these patients.

Financial Disclosure:

None