Glistening and IOLs

The influence of glistenings (small - 1.0 to 5.0 mm - fluid-filled microvacuoles that form within the intraocular lens (IOL) optic when the IOL is in an aqueous environment) remains controversial. J Colin and colleagues in Bordeaux, France evaluated the incidence of glistenings in a large series of consecutive eyes implanted with a blue light-filtering hydrophobic IOL. This study included 111 eyes of 74 patients (age range 33 to 86 years). All cases had cataract surgery with AcrySof SN60WF monofocal IOL implantation and had a routine postoperative examination between March 2011 and June 2011. Glistenings occurred in 96 eyes (86.5 per cent). Glistenings were of grade 1 severity in 45 eyes (40.5 per cent) and of grade 2 severity in 51 eyes (45.9 per cent). The follow-up was significantly longer in eyes with grade 2 glistenings. A limited, but significant, correlation was found between glistening severity and length of follow-up. Although there was a trend toward decreased visual acuities at higher glistening grades, there were no significant differences in CDVA between the glistening severity groups.

J Colin et al, JCRS, “Incidence of glistenings with the latest generation of yellow-tinted hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lensesâ€, Volume 38, Issue 7, 1140-1146.