Effect of capsular tension ring on refractive results in cases with pseudoexfoliation syndrome

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effect of capsular tension rings (CTRs) on postoperative refractive results in patients with pseudoexfoliation (PSX) syndrome. Materials and Methods: Sixty-nine patients with PSX syndrome who had uncomplicated cataract surgery between March 2016 and February 2019 were reviewed retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups. The 35 patients in Group 1 received CTRs prior to intraocular lens implantation during cataract surgery, and the 34 patients in Group 2 had cataract surgery without CTRs. Significant zonular weakness, uncontrolled glaucoma, and ocular pathologies causing low visual acuity were excluded. The preoperative and postoperative keratometry and autorefraction measurements, preoperative expected refractive values, and absolute refractive error were recorded. Results: The mean ages of patients were 73.54 ± 9.78 years in Group 1 and 72.23 ± 6.72 years in Group 2 ( p = 0.521). There was no statistically significant difference between Group 1 and Group 2 in terms of expected preoperative refraction values (–0.52 ± 0.12,–0.56 ± 0.08, respectively, p = 0.118). There was a statistically significant difference in postoperative spherical equivalent values between Group 1 and Group 2 (–0.05 ± 0.97 and −0.92 ± 0.57, respectively, p < 0.01). A statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of absolute refractive error (0.46 ± 0.74 in Group 1 and −0.34 ± 0.59 in Group 2 p < 0.01). Conclusion: CTR implantation causes hyperopic shift, which should be taken into consideration when calculating the lens power of intraocular lens in patients with PSX syndrome.