Early rotational stability of the longer Staar toric intraocular lens

PURPOSE: To determine whether rotational stability is improved with the longer Staar toric intraocular lens (IOL). SETTING: A private practice, Los Altos, California, USA. METHODS: Staar Surgical manufactures toric plate-haptic IOLs under +24.0 diopters (D) in 2 lengths. Fifty consecutive eyes requiring toric IOL spherical powers less than +24.0 D received the longer toric IOL (TL; 11.2 mm) using a specific surgical protocol. The IOL axis was recorded at 1 day, 1 week, and a final follow-up visit. Five additional eyes requiring powers greater than +24.0 D received the shorter toric IOL (TF; 10.8 mm), which is the only available length in these powers. Results were compared with those in an initial consecutive series of 6 eyes having implantation of the TF IOL with a power less than +24.0 D before the TL model became available. RESULTS: Rotational stability of all 50 TL IOLs and the 5 TF IOLs of higher dioptric powers was excellent. One IOL rotated as much as 20 degrees off axis. The repositioning rate was zero in both groups. In the initial 6 eyes receiving the shorter toric IOL in powers below +24.0 D, the repositioning rate was 50%. CONCLUSIONS: The longer toric IOL had excellent early rotational stability. Rotational and repositioning rates with the TL IOL were superior to those in a previous series of the TF IOL. Adequate overall length is a critical factor in the rotational stability of plate-haptic toric IOLs, and the longer IOL should be used when available.