Combined 25-gauge vitrectomy and cataract surgery with toric intraocular lens with idiopathic epiretinal membrane

Purpose To evaluate the stability of axis rotation, astigmatism correction, and improvement in uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) up to 6 months postoperatively using an astigmatism-correcting intraocular lens (IOL) in a 25-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy combined with cataract surgery. Setting Department of Ophthalmology, Kagawa University Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa, Japan. Design Prospective nonrandomized interventional study. Method Eyes with a preoperative corneal cylinder of more than 0.75 diopter (D) had a triple procedure for idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM) using an Acrysof IQ toric IOL. Outcome measures were the amount of IOL axis rotation up to 3 months postoperatively, UDVA, corrected distance visual acuity, and corneal and refractive astigmatism up to 6 months postoperatively. A comparison was performed between patients with a target postoperative spherical refraction of emmetropia (toric emmetropic group) and patients who previously had a triple procedure for idiopathic ERM using a nontoric IOL (control group). Results The mean IOL axis rotation from the end of surgery until 3 months postoperatively was 3.67 degrees ± 3.13 (SD). Six months postoperatively, the mean corneal and refractive cylinders were 1.32 ± 0.61 D and 0.51 ± 0.31 D, respectively, showing a significant difference ( P t test). In addition, the mean UDVA was significantly improved 6 months postoperatively in the control and toric emmetropic group (0.57 logMAR versus 0.35 logMAR) ( P =.028), although the toric group was more improved than the control group. Conclusion In vitrectomy (triple procedure) for idiopathic ERM with a toric IOL, postoperative IOL axis stability was similar to that reported for cataract surgery alone. Furthermore, the UDVA was better than with implantation of a spherical IOL. Financial Disclosure No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.