Refractive lens exchange and piggyback intraocular lens implantation in nanophthalmos: Visual and structural outcomes

To evaluate the best piggyback intraocular lens (IOL) implantation method and the outcomes in nanophthalmos eyes and to define the postoperative structural changes.

Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran.

Prospective case series.

Candidates for refractive surgery who were nanophthalmic were recruited. Patients had refractive lens exchange followed by implantation of both IOLs in the bag or 1 IOL in the bag and 1 IOL in the sulcus. The baseline and follow-up visual acuity, refractive status, and structural Scheimpflug imaging were evaluated. Ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) was performed 6 months postoperatively.

The study comprised 9 nanophthalmic patients (18 eyes) with a mean preoperative uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) of 1.53 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) ± 0.3 (SD), mean corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) of 0.34 ± 0.2 logMAR, and mean spherical equivalent (SE) of +13.55 ± 4.0 diopters (D). The mean postoperative UDVA improved from baseline. There was no significant difference in the mean UDVA and CDVA between the 2 IOL groups. Postoperatively, both groups had a significant improvement in SE, a significant rise in anterior chamber depth and angle, and similar UBM measurements.

Piggyback IOL implantation was an effective refractive procedure in nanophthalmic eyes. Both implantation methods resulted in similar outcomes; however, the small number of patients in each group made it less likely that possible differences would be found. The increase in angle values might help prevent the development of closed-angle glaucoma.