The Relationship Between the Change of Intraocular Lens Position and Capsular Bend After Cataract Surgery

PURPOSE: To explore the relationship between the change in intraocular lens (IOL) position and capsular bend after cataract surgery. METHODS: Patients underwent phacoemulsification and IOL implantation (Alcon Laboratories, Inc). Patients were divided into two groups based on preoperative axial length: long axial length group (axial length >= 26 mm) and normal axial length group (axial length > 22 but < 26 mm). Swept-source optical coherence tomography was performed at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after mydriasis to obtain postoperative aqueous depth (PAD) and capsular bend index (CBI). The relationship between CBI and PAD changes was analyzed. RESULTS: Eighty patients (80 eyes) were included in the study. PAD decreased gradually from 1 day to 1 week and increased from 1 week to 3 months. Mean CBI was moderately positively correlated with PAD changes (r = 0.586, P < .001). The IOL moved forward gradually when the CBI was less than 2.30 and the IOL gradually moved backward when the CBI was 2.30 or greater. The root mean square of the change in PAD was smaller in the long axial length group (0.08 +/- 0.04 mm) than in the normal axial length group (0.09 +/- 0.05 mm) during the 3 months after surgery (P = .036). CONCLUSIONS: The position of the IOL was almost stable 1 month after operation, and postoperative capsule adhesion mainly occurred within 1 month. The change in PAD was related to capsule adhesion. The postoperative position of the IOL was relatively stable and capsular bend was relatively slow for the long axial length group over 3 months.