Systematic Study on the Biomechanical Stability of C-Loop Intraocular Lenses: Approach to an Optimal Design of the Haptics

To study the main design parameters that affect the mechanical stability of C-loop intraocular lenses, leading to an optimal design that minimizes the axial displacement, tilt and rotation. A total of 144 geometrical variations were studied on a 1-piece, non-angulated, C-loop hydrophobic acrylate intraocular lens. The study was performed in a finite element modeling simulation. The suitable set of variations was determined using a mixed-factorial analysis, allowing to analyse the impact of the different designs on the mechanical stability of the lens (compression force, axial displacement, tilt and rotation). The design parameters under study were: the length, width, thickness and opening angle of the haptic, the haptic-optic junction and the start of the haptic curvature. The compression (or reaction) force is affected by the haptic width, the haptic-optic junction, and the interaction between both. The axial displacement is mainly affected by the width and thickness of the haptic, and the size of the haptic-optic junction as well. The tilt is affected by the haptic thickness and the interaction between the haptic curvature and the haptic-optic junction. The rotation is affected by the start of the haptic curvature, the haptic-optic junction and the haptic width. The haptic-optic juntion is one of the most influential parameters affecting the four responses studied of the C-Loop IOL. The smaller the haptic-optic juntion, the better biomechanical stability.