Weight of Different Intraocular Lenses: Evaluation of Toricity, Focality, Design, and Material

Purpose. To evaluate the weight of intraocular lenses (IOLs) depending on their material, dioptric power, toricity, focality, and haptic design. Methods. Twenty-eight different IOL models from nine different medical companies (a total of 38 IOLs) and 1 capsular tension ring (CTR) were evaluated. IOLs were weighed using a precision scale, in hydrated conditions, as an approximation to their intraocular status. Results. Hydrophilic IOLs were heavier than hydrophobic lenses (p<0.001). Regarding toricity, no statistical differences were found comparing toric to non-toric models (p=0.1). Likewise, no differences were found between multifocal IOLs and monofocal IOLs (p=0.19). Dioptric power did not affect IOL weight: IOLs of D (p=0.86 and p=0.59, respectively). Plate-design IOLs were significantly heavier than 1-piece C-loop (p<0.001), 3-piece C-loop (p<0.001), and 4-haptic lenses (p=0.001). Conclusions. Of the characteristics analyzed that might influence IOL weight, lenses with hydrophilic material and plate-haptic design were found to be heavier. Toricity, focality, and dioptric power had no influence on IOL weight.

Automated summary

The weight of intraocular lenses (IOLs) depends on their material and haptic design, with hydrophilic material and plate-haptic design resulting in heavier lenses. Toricity, focality, and dioptric power do not have an influence on IOL weight.