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Off-Label Use of Phakic Intraocular Lens with a "Piggyback" Technique
Tadgh Schempf1, Hoon C Jung2,3
1New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
Case Reports in Ophthalmology
|December 7, 2018
Summary
This case study shows successful off-label use of piggyback phakic intraocular lenses (pIOLs) in a highly myopic, pseudophakic patient. This technique improved visual acuity and enabled refractive correction in the fellow eye.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Refractive Surgery
Background:
- Severe myopia presents challenges for refractive correction, especially in pseudophakic patients.
- Standard intraocular lens (IOL) implantation may not fully correct high myopia post-cataract surgery.
Observation:
- A 66-year-old highly myopic, pseudophakic male with an existing IOL in one eye sought surgical options for his other eye.
- Off-label placement of a posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens (pIOL) using a piggyback technique was performed in the pseudophakic eye.
Findings:
- The patient's uncorrected visual acuity in the treated eye improved from 20/70 to 20/25.
- This procedure allowed for subsequent cataract surgery and IOL implantation in the fellow eye, achieving emmetropia.
Implications:
- Piggyback pIOLs offer a viable off-label surgical option for highly myopic, pseudophakic patients.
- This technique can enhance visual outcomes and refractive correction in complex cases.
- Ophthalmologists can consider this approach for managing severe refractive errors in pseudophakic individuals.