Preoperative Steps in Presbyopic Cataract
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s FUNDAMENTALS IN FIVE PREOPERATIVE STEPS IN PRESBYOPIC CATARACT SURGERY Five fundamentals to match the right IOL technology to the right patient. BY FLORIAN T.A. KRETZ, MD, FEBO; AND IMANE TARIB, MD ecent advances in premium cataract surgery allow sur- geons to achieve better visual outcomes for patients than was possible in the past. Due to expanding indications for surgery and rising expectations of patients, preoperative screening is a crucial step in the process of determining Rthe right IOL for the right patient. In the June Fundamentals in Five column, we discussed five important factors in choosing the right IOL. In this issue, we discuss five key factors that every surgeon and staff member must master in preoperative patient screen- ing, evaluation, and counseling to ensure that patients are Figure 1. Corneal tomography maps showing regular (left) and irregular (right) astigmatism. happy with our decisions in presbyopia-correcting surgery. Analysis of axial power maps and the front:back cor- FUNDAMENTAL CORNEAL EVALUATION neal surface ratio in the sagittal plane allow detection of Corneal tomography is an effective tool to abnormalities in corneal shape. This is especially pertinent 1 assess corneal optical quality. It provides an in patients with a history of refractive surgical procedures exhaustive examination of the corneal surface and thickness, because it significantly influences IOL power calculation. and it can display Scheimpflug images for visualization of Moreover, measurements of corneal spherical aberration anterior segment structures.1 These images help to document provided by corneal tomography are essential for IOL selec- lens opacification and make it easier to explain to patients tion and patient counseling. These measurements can help the need for surgical intervention. The data gathered include make the choice between a monofocal and an extended information such as the presence of irregular astigmatism depth of focus (EDOF) IOL, depending on pupil size and (Figure 1), corneal shape, spherical aberration, and cylinder. spherical aberration. Irregular astigmatism greatly affects visual outcomes and It is also important to analyze cylinder measurements, is challenging to treat after surgery. Therefore, preoperative especially if the use of toric IOLs is being considered. screening for this condition is important. Corneal tomogra- Measuring regular corneal astigmatism with a manual or phy provides quantitative assessment of irregular astigma- automated keratometer is not enough. It is now mandato- tism with analysis of total higher-order aberrations (HOAs), ry to assess total HOAs in order to make the right decision. along with qualitative assessment with a refractive power Patients with severe irregular corneal astigmatism are not map. Studies have found that patients with moderate eligible for toric IOL implantation. The reproducibility of amounts of HOAs—values greater than 0.3 µm in mild tomographic cylinder measurements can be confirmed by irregular astigmatism and 0.4 µm in moderate irregular comparing the magnitude and axis of regular astigmatism astigmatism for a 4-mm pupil—are likely to experience between manual keratometry and the wavefront-derived a major decrease in visual quality postoperatively.2,3 This value. Several studies have shown the effect of poste- matters for quality of vision with presbyopia-correcting rior corneal curvature on visual outcomes, making these IOLs but also for asphericity and the aspheric optical pro- measurements important for toric IOL planning.2,4 file of monofocal IOLs. (Continued on page 79) 82 CATARACT & REFRACTIVE SURGERY TODAY EUROPE | JULY/AUGUST 2018 FUNDAMENTALS IN FIVE s (Continued from page 82) FUNDAMENTAL OCT EVALUATION FUNDAMENTAL SETTING PATIENT Cataract patients EXPECTATIONS 3 generally belong to 2 To determine the the senior population, which means best IOL technology for patients who that they have a relatively high rate desire presbyopic cataract surgery, of associated pathologies, some of it is key to focus on each patient’s which can compromise the outcomes individual lifestyle and needs. Patient of presbyopia-correcting IOL surgery.7 education and counseling helps the Chronic pathologies such as diabetic surgeon to decide which approach retinopathy and glaucoma are well would be best. During this chair time, documented on OCT. Other disor- patients are informed about potential ders that are not clinically visible can outcomes with an emphasis on the also be observed with OCT, such as degree of spectacle independence mild macular edema or a transparent that may be expected, the possibil- epiretinal membrane—either of which ity of dysphotopic phenomena, and can negatively impact the outcomes of the potential need for postoperative presbyopia-correcting surgery. refinements. Additionally, early stages of age- It is important to impress upon related macular degeneration (AMD) patients that presbyopia-correcting can be detected on OCT. When early IOLs offer a wider range of vision com- AMD is detected, patients should be pared to monofocal IOLs because they counseled about possible chronic loss provide multiple foci.5 It is important of vision in their later years after IOL to discuss with patients how their lens implantation (Figure 4). choices will affect their reading habits and the visual tasks required in their FUNDAMENTAL DEALING WITH Figure 2. Halo and glare strength analysis with the profession and daily activities. DYSPHOTOPIC AT LARA 829 EDOF IOL (Carl Zeiss Meditec). Photic phenomena are a possible 4 PHENOMENA side effect with presbyopia-correcting Photic phenomena induced by the promising with regard to the reduction lenses, and patients must be edu- optical designs of presbyopia-correcting of dysphotopic phenomena.6 cated about this risk by showing IOLs are often the first dissatisfaction There are also so-called mix-and- them images that illustrate halos and reported by patients after premium match approaches, in which two differ- glare around light sources in differ- cataract surgery.6,8 These phenomena ent types of IOL are used. These have ent scenarios, such as driving a car at should be discussed before surgery. been reported to result in remarkable night (Figure 2). Fortunately, this side Explain to patients that each optical rates of satisfaction, with significantly effect is rare and often disappears design has a different pattern of photic reduced frequency of dysphotopsia after a period of neural adaptation. In phenomena, and show patients images complaints by patients.9 In a small case worst-case scenarios, surgery can be from simulators to gauge their tolerance series of older cataract patients, we reversed and a multifocal IOL can be in the event these phenomena occur found that the rate of photic phenom- exchanged for a monofocal. However, after surgery (Figure 2). Although it is ena in patients binocularly implanted it is important to remember that not often discussed, monofocal IOLs can with a rotationally asymmetric EDOF monofocal IOLs can also cause halos also cause dysphotopsia, depending on IOL with 1.50 D depth of focus at the and glare.6 Patients must understand their aspheric optical profiles and espe- IOL plane resulted in rates of halos and these possibilities preoperatively so cially if corneal aberrations are not taken glare comparable to those in patients that they have realistic expectations. into account.6 implanted with a monofocal IOL.10 In our practice we have learned that, In bilateral presbyopia-correcting IOL with diffractive IOLs, patients need to surgery, when patients are motivated FUNDAMENTAL TAKING ACCOUNT know that they could experience halos but undecided about their tolerance of OF ASSOCIATED as a result of the optical profile of the dysphotopsia, the surgeon can implant 5 DISORDERS lens (Figure 3). A simple explanation one IOL in the nondominant eye and In order to avoid pitfalls in pre- can result in a happy doctor with let the patient decide if he or she mium cataract surgery, it is important a functional outcome and a happy still wants the same IOL in the other to conduct an exhaustive ophthal- patient who knew what to expect. eye. The latest generation of IOLs is mic examination to determine the JULY/AUGUST 2018 | CATARACT & REFRACTIVE SURGERY TODAY EUROPE 79 s FUNDAMENTALS IN FIVE right candidates for presbyopia-correcting surgery, elimi- to strengthen the cornea and making the incision on the nate those who have contraindications, and fine-tune steep axis to help reduce astigmatism. preoperative measurements. Finally, a history of previous infection or inflammation Dry eye disease (DED) is one of the most frequently may call for prophylactic measures. For example, patients encountered conditions in candidates for premium cataract with a history of herpes simplex virus infection must take surgery.11 In severe forms, DED can cause serious ocular sur- valaciclovir pre- and postoperatively in order to prevent face damage, significant topographic errors, and, if not well recurrence of the infection, which would compromise the treated, poor visual outcomes that can be falsely blamed on surgical outcomes. the surgery. Therefore, proper diagnosis and management of DED is mandatory prior to surgery to ensure patients’ post- CONCLUSION operative satisfaction and good outcomes. Premium IOL surgery, and especially presbyopia correc- A history of previous refractive surgery may require adapta- tion, is truly one of the most amazing opportunities in our tion of IOL power calculation methods,