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Investigation of the effect of the Alcon AcrySof Natural (ANIOL) blue‐filtering intraocular lens on macular pigment
Author(s) -
O'REILLY P,
LOANE E,
LOUGHMAN J,
BEATTY S,
NOLAN J
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2008.6318.x
Subject(s) - medicine , macular degeneration , ophthalmology , intraocular lens , visual acuity , intraocular lenses , cataract surgery , lutein , carotenoid , chemistry , food science
Purpose Photo‐oxidation is believed to play a role in age‐related macular degeneration (AMD). Macular pigment (MP), consisting of the carotenoids: lutein (L), zeaxanthin (Z) and meso‐Z, protects the retina from photo‐oxidative damage. This study was designed to test the effect of the Alcon AcrySof Natural (ANIOL) blue‐filtering intraocular lens on MP. Methods Forty four patients scheduled for cataract surgery were recruited into our study. These patients all had pre‐operative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of at least 6/18 in the study eye. Patients were randomised to have either the standard Alcon AcrySof three‐piece acrylic intraocular lens (AIOL) [controls] or the ANIOL. We measured the spatial profile of MP using customised heterochromatic flicker photometry (cHFP) pre‐operatively and post‐operatively, and at three, six and 12 months after surgery. BCVA was measured in the study eye at each visit and a blood sample was taken to control for changes in serum carotenoid levels. Results The mean age (± SD) of our study group was 69 (± 11) years. The last patient study will be completed by 27th of June 2008 and randomisation and final study data will be available for analysis and presentation after this date. Preliminary analysis shows that the mean (± SD) MP optical density at peak (0.25o eccentricity) was 0.301 (± 0.159) before and 0.296 (± 0.142) after cataract extraction (Paired‐sample t‐test, p = 0.616). Conclusion Customised HFP appears to be unaffected by lens opacity where BCVA is at least 6/18 and can be used to obtain reliable measurements of the spatial profile of MP in patients with cataracts. Further comment will be made following final study analysis in June.Commercial interest