Phaco Tip 131:
RP and IOL selection

Patients with small residual central fields such as those seen with advanced retinitis pigmentosa or glaucoma who are about to undergo cataract extraction may benefit by induction of postoperative myopia. This is because it is possible to increase their functional visual field if a postoperative refraction of approximately -4.00 to -5.00 is obtained. The resultant miniaturization of the image permits more of the visual field to be seen with the area of the retina which is still functional i.e. it will allow them to see more (about 10%) of the world at one time.

This can be an absolutely huge benefit for patients who spend their lives bumping into objects because of absent peripheral vision. It may also improve the patient’s ability to read because more letters can be seen within their field of vision. On the contrary, if cataract-implant surgery is performed on a patient who is already significantly myopic and who becomes emmetropic as a result of the procedure, the patient may be very unhappy because of the above.

* Phaco Tip TM of Richard J. Mackool, M.D.

The parameters (instrument settings) and incision size presented here have been established by the surgeon and do not reflect recommendations by Alcon.