Positioning of the posterior intraocular lens in the longer term following cataract surgery in eyes with and without pseudoexfoliation syndrome

PURPOSE: To assess long-term positioning of posterior chamber intraocular lenses within the capsular bag in eyes with pseudoexfoliation syndrome. METHODS: The study includes 44 patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome and 85 age-matched controls, who underwent cataract surgery in 2001 and 2002 at the Eye Department, Oslo University Hospital. In 2008, all patients were re-examined. A comparison of the extent of possible decentration in eyes with and without pseudoexfoliation syndrome was made by evaluating Scheimpflug images (Pentacam) of the anterior segment. RESULTS: It was found that, 6-7 years following cataract surgery, posterior chamber intraocular lenses were positioned lower in eyes with pseudoexfoliation syndrome than in control eyes. The difference was statistically significant (p=0.01). Downward shift was associated with presence of glaucoma only in eyes with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (p=0.01). No patients had visual disturbances related to displacement of the intraocular lens. Three of the patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (6.8%) had observable pseudophacodonesis by slit-lamp examination, compared to one in the control group (1.2%). The study demonstrated that Pentacam is an appropriate instrument to measure decentration of intraocular lenses. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that, 6-7 years after cataract surgery, the intraocular lenses within the capsular bag are more prone to decentration in pseudoexfoliation syndrome eyes, compared to controls.