Phakic refractive lens experience in Spain

To evaluate the efficacy, predictability, and safety of a phakic refractive lens (PRL) for high myopia and hyperopia.

Instituto Oftalmológico Hoyos, Barcelona, Spain.

A PRL was implanted in 31 eyes (17 myopic, 14 hyperopic) with a mean preoperative spherical equivalent (SE) of -18.46 diopters (D) (range -11.85 to -26.00 D) for myopia and +7.77 D (range +5.25 to +11.00 D) for hyperopia. All eyes had a thorough ophthalmologic examination before and after surgery. The follow-up was at least 12 months.

At 1 year, the mean postoperative SE in the myopic group was -0.22 D +/- 0.87 (SD) and 82% were within +/-1.00 D of the desired refraction. The mean postoperative SE in the hyperopic group was -0.38 +/- 0.82 D, and 79% were within +/-1.00 D. Snellen lines of visual acuity were gained in 65% of the myopic eyes (8 eyes gained 1 line, 3 eyes gained 2 lines), and no eye lost lines. In the hyperopic group, 1 eye gained 1 line of acuity and 1 eye lost 1 line. In the hyperopic group, complications included pupillary block in 2 eyes and pigment dispersion signs without intraocular hypertension in 1 eye. In the myopic group, 1 eye had a corticosteroid-induced intraocular pressure rise, 1 eye had a spot of anterior cortical lens opacity immediately after surgery that did not progress, and 3 eyes with the PRL model 100 had decentration that required replacement of the lens. Four patients (2 myopic, 2 hyperopic) reported night halos in both eyes.

Results indicate that PRL implantation to correct high myopia and hyperopia is a relatively rapid, safe, predictable, and stable method that in many cases also improves the best corrected visual acuity. Complications such as visually significant progressive cataract and pigmentary glaucoma were not observed.