Purpose: To describe the safety and stability of sulcus placement of the MA50 intraocular lens (IOL).
Patients and methods: Consecutive patients with MA50 IOLs placed in the sulcus at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, USA, from 1997 to 2012 were identified. Inclusion criteria included patients with over 4 weeks of follow-up data. AEL was compared with incidence of IOL decentration using at two-tailed Student's t-test.
Results: Fifty eyes of 49 patients meeting the inclusion criteria were identified. Four weeks post-operatively, the average best-corrected visual acuity was 20/30. IOL decentration occurred in 14% of patients; patients with decentered IOLs had a significantly longer average AEL (25.37 mm) than patients whose IOL remained centered (23.94 mm, P=0.017). Other complications included uveitis-glaucoma-hyphema syndrome (12%), iritis (8%), and glaucoma (6%). There were no cases of pigment dispersion syndrome or need for lens exchange. Twelve eyes (24%) had intra-operative optic capture by the anterior capsule, none of which had post-operative decentration.
Conclusion: The MA50 IOL is a reasonable, stable option for placement in the sulcus, with a low-risk profile; however, in eyes with longer AEL and presumably larger anterior segment, surgeons should consider placing an IOL with longer haptic distance than the MA50 to maintain centration. Optic capture of the MA50 IOL by the anterior capsule should be considered for longer eyes, as it is protective against decentration.