Visual outcomes after refractive laser corneal surgery and phakic IOL in amblyopic eyes

To evaluate the outcomes of laser corneal surgery and phakic IOL surgery in adult amblyopic eyes.

Retrospective assessment was done in 688 amblyopic eyes 640 patients who underwent LASIK or phakic IOLs. Ophthalmological evaluation included measurement of uncorrected (UDVA) and corrected (CDVA) distance visual acuities. Analysis of modulation transfer function (MTF) was also done post-operatively as a measure of contrast sensitivity. Patients completed follow-up examinations at 1 day, 3 day, 3 months and 12 months after surgery.

The mean patient age was 24.30 ± 3.04 years with 59% females. The CDVA of amblyopic eyes improved significantly from the mean preoperative level of 0.48 ± 0.18 to 0.59 ± 0.18 at 12 months. There was improvement in the contrast sensitivity at all spatial frequencies. Refractive errors were corrected in both LASIK and phakic IOL group, but there was no clinically significant difference in visual outcomes between each group.

Laser vision correction and phakic IOL surgery for amblyopic eyes are promising alternative methods for improving visual outcomes in adult refractive amblyopia patients who have failed with conventional approaches.