Comparison of the AcrySof SA60 spherical intraocular lens and the AcrySof Toric SN60T3 intraocular lens outcomes in patients with low amounts of corneal astigmatism

Background:  Toric intraocular lenses (IOLs) have been reported to be an effective method of reducing postoperative refractive astigmatism and spectacle dependence following cataract surgery. This study compares a series of patients with low corneal astigmatism implanted with either the AcrySof SA60 spherical IOL or the AcrySof Toric SN60T3 IOL in a quantitative fashion to establish the merit of toric IOLs in these cases.
Methods:  A retrospective chart audit was undertaken of 12 patients receiving the AcrySof Toric SN60T3 IOL (1.5 DC, Alcon, Fort Worth) and 10 patients receiving the AcrySof SA60 IOL (Alcon, Fort Worth). Preoperative corneal astigmatism and postoperative refractive astigmatism were recorded and converted into a non-signed Astigmatic Power Vector for statistical analysis. Postoperative vision (uncorrected visual acuity, UCVA) was also recorded for both groups. A statistical analysis was performed to examine for differences in outcomes between groups.
Results:  The mean magnitude of the preoperative corneal Astigmatic Power Vector was not significantly different between the groups. The mean magnitude of the postoperative refractive vector was significantly smaller in the AcrySof Toric group. The mean UCVA was significantly better in the AcrySof Toric group compared with the AcrySof group.
Conclusion:  The AcrySof Toric IOL provides a significant improvement in postoperative astigmatism and UCVA when compared statistically with its spherical counterpart for patients with low degrees of corneal astigmatism.