Astigmatism correction with a foldable toric intraocular lens in cataract patients.

PURPOSE To determine the efficacy and rotational stability of a toric posterior chamber silicone intraocular lens (IOL) to correct preoperative astigmatism in cataract patients. SETTING Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Vienna, Vienna Austria. METHODS Between 1993 and 1998, foldable toric single-piece plate-haptic silicone IOLs were implanted in 37 eyes (30 patients). The cylindrical IOL power was 2.00 diopters (D) (n = 29), 3.50 D (n = 7), or 4.00 D (n = 1). Phacoemulsification was performed through a scleral or a corneal sutureless self-sealing incision. Outcomes of Snellen visual acuity (without, with spherical, and with best correction), refractive and keratometric astigmatism, and IOL rotation after early postoperative (mean 15.9 days +/- 10.1 [SD]) and long-term (mean 20.3 +/- 16.6 months) follow-ups were evaluated. RESULTS At last follow-up, 31 eyes (83.8%) had a spherically corrected and 34 (91.9%) a best corrected visual acuity of 0.5 (20/40) or better. Mean preoperative refractive and keratometric astigmatism was 2.68 and 2.70 D, respectively. At the last postoperative follow-up, mean refractive astigmatism was reduced to 0.84 D; keratometric astigmatism was 2.30 D. In 7 eyes (18.9%), the IOL axis was rotated a maximum of 25 degrees. In all 37 eyes, the axis of the toric IOL remained within 30 degrees of rotation. CONCLUSIONS Early postoperative and long-term follow-ups showed effective and stable correction of astigmatism after implantation of a foldable toric posterior chamber silicone IOL.