Comparison of Toric Intraocular Lens Alignment Between Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Capsular Marking and Manual Corneal Marking

Abstract

Purpose: To compare toric intraocular lens (IOL) alignment between femtosecond laser-assisted capsular marking and manual corneal marking.

Methods: This study prospectively included 72 consecutive eyes (from 72 patients) with cataract and anterior corneal astigmatism of 1.00 diopter (D) or greater that underwent femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery with implantation of a toric IOL. These eyes were randomly categorized into two groups based on the IOL alignment method. The femtosecond laser capsular marking group included 36 eyes with capsular markers using the latest femtosecond laser platform. The manual marking group included 36 eyes with manual corneal markers. The preservation of the markers was assessed. Visual acuity and refractive outcomes, as well as deviation from the target axis, were evaluated.

Results: In the femtosecond laser capsular marking group, all capsular markers were retained for at least 3 months. In the manual marking group, 22.2% of the corneal markers disappeared within 1 month and all markers disappeared within 3 months. At 1 month postoperatively, the mean magnitudes of refractive astigmatism were -0.41 ± 0.26 and -0.45 ± 0.31 D (P = .81), and the uncorrected distance visual acuities were 0.07 ± 0.06 and 0.07 ± 0.05 logMAR (P = .56) in the femtosecond laser capsular marking and manual marking groups, respectively. The misalignment of the toric IOL within 1 hour postoperatively was 1.5° ± 1.4° in the femtosecond laser capsular marking group and 4.4° ± 2.1° in the manual marking group (P < .01). The deviation from the target axis of implantation was 1.6° ± 1.3° in the femtosecond laser capsular group and 4.8° ± 2.5° in the manual marking group (P < .01) at 1 month postoperatively.

Conclusions: IOL misalignment was significantly lower in the femtosecond laser-assisted capsular marking group than in the manual corneal marking group. In addition, the long-term preservation of the capsular marker is helpful in evaluating the rotation of the toric IOL. [J Refract Surg. 2020;36(8):536-542.].