Anterior chamber lenses. Part I: Complications and pathology and a review of designs.

Clinicopathologic data to assist ophthalmologists in choosing a safe and efficacious anterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) are rapidly becoming available. Two important factors that have led to an increased success rate with some anterior chamber IOL styles are (1) attention to lens design and (2) attention to modern manufacturing and lens finishing techniques. We now know much more about how to achieve appropriate lens flexibility, which decreases the need for perfect sizing. Increased attention has been given to the anterior-posterior vaulting characteristics of IOLs. This has reduced the incidence of various complications such as the intermittent touch syndrome and the uveal chafing syndrome. We recognize several design flaws in some lens styles. For example, there is now a considerable decrease in the number of small-diameter, round-looped anterior chamber IOLs being implanted, particularly those with a closed-loop configuration. Several problems have been and continue to be caused by some poorly manufactured anterior chamber lenses with sharp optic and haptic edges. Technology to assure smooth lens finishing and polishing is available and readily accessible to all manufacturers. Defective lenses should soon be a thing of the past.