Chloe F. T. Ting1,2, Chee F. Chong3, Anthony Yao4, Henry Liu1,2

Purpose: To report the incidence of lens epithelial cell outgrowth (LECO), in patients implanted with the Clareon hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lens (IOL).

Methods: Retrospective audit of postoperative outcomes of patients implanted with the Clareon hydrophobic acrylic IOLs by a single experienced surgeon at 1 day, 1 week and 1 month.

Results: 105 eyes from 91 patients received the Clareon IOL following uncomplicated cataract extraction. Outgrowth of the lens epithelial cells was detected in 26 eyes (24.8%) from 24 patients ‐ of which 2 patients (4 eyes) had bilateral Clareon IOLs that formed LECO, and 2 bilateral pseudophakic patients had LECO in the Clareon IOL implanted eye while the contralateral eye with AcrySof IQ SN60WF and AcrySof IQ SN6AT IOLs did not show evidence of LECO.

Conclusion: This finding suggests that up to 25% of patients implanted with the Clareon hydrophobic acrylic IOL developed LECO. It is uncertain as to the predisposing patient factors that lead to the development of LECO. Further studies are required to determine factors that influence the development of LECO and its long‐term effects.