Early refractive stability and predictive accuracy of a novel hydrophobic C-loop monofocal intraocular lens in eyes with normal axial length

This study aimed to evaluate the early postoperative refractive stabilization pattern and time course associated with a novel hydrophobic C-loop monofocal intraocular lens (IOL) following phacoemulsification cataract surgery. This retrospective study evaluated patients who underwent uneventful phacoemulsification and implantation of a single-piece hydrophobic C-loop monofocal IOL. Manifest refraction spherical equivalent (MRSE) and refractive error (RE) were assessed on postoperative day 1, at 1 week, and at 1 month. Primary outcomes included longitudinal changes in MRSE and RE to evaluate refractive stabilization over time. Secondary outcomes included prediction error and the proportion of eyes achieving target refraction accuracy. The study included 43 eyes of 43 patients with a mean age of 69.9 ± 6.3 years, including 24 females (55.8%). A statistically significant myopic shift was observed during the first postoperative month; the mean MRSE progressively shifted from 0.08 ± 0.50 D on day 1 to −0.09 ± 0.40 D at 1 week, and stabilized at −0.19 ± 0.42 D at 1 month ( P  < .001). Correspondingly, the mean RE shifted from 0.25 ± 0.52 D on day 1 to 0.08 ± 0.41 D at 1 week, and −0.02 ± 0.43 D at 1 month ( P  < .001). Regarding refractive accuracy, the proportion of eyes within ± 0.50 D of the target refraction significantly improved from 51.2% on day 1 to 76.7% at 1 week and 74.4% at 1 month ( P  < .001). The mean absolute error also decreased significantly from 0.49 ± 0.30 D on day 1 to 0.36 ± 0.24 D at 1 month ( P  < .001). No intraoperative or postoperative complications were observed. This novel hydrophobic C-loop monofocal IOL exhibits a predictable and progressive early refractive pattern characterized by an initial myopic shift within the first postoperative week, followed by stabilization up to 1 month. These findings support the clinical feasibility of functional refraction and spectacle prescription as early as 1 week following uncomplicated cataract surgery.