Early results with the toric implantable contact lens in patients with myopia and astigmatism

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy, predictability, and safety of the STAAR toric implantable contact lens for the correction of myopia and astigmatism. Setting: Gimbel Eye Centre, Calgary, Alberta. Methods: Prospective study of 58 eyes of 32 consecutive patients that underwent implantation of the STAAR toric implantable contact lens. After 6 months of follow-up the uncorrected visual acuity, best spectacle corrected visual acuity, and refraction were analyzed. Results: Fifty-two eyes of 58 eyes (89.7%) were accounted for at 6 months postoperatively. Mean preoperative spherical equivalent was -9.36 ± 3.21 and mean preoperative cylinder was -2.33 ± 1.04. Six months after implantation the mean spherical equivalent was +0.02 ± 0.48. Most patients (94.2%) had postoperative uncorrected visual acuity of 6/12 (20/40) or better and 78.8% had uncorrected visual acuity of 6/6 (20/20) or better. No eye lost more than 1 line of best spectacle corrected visual acuity. Conclusion: The toric implantable contact lens is an effective and relatively safe procedure with good postoperative predictability in eyes with myopia and astigmatism. However, long-term follow-up is recommended.