Comparison of iris fixation and anterior chamber intraocular lens implants

The visual results and complications with iris fixation and anterior chamber lenses were compared by studying 289 consecutive implantations, most performed by intracapsular techniques. The visual results were equivalent with the two types of lens, but cystoid macular edema, corneal edema, uveitis, steroid-induced ocular hypertension and lens dislocation were more frequent among the 176 eyes with iris fixation lenses. The rates of other complications were approximately equal in the two groups of eyes. Among the patients with cystoid macular edema 21.2% of those with iris fixation lenses but none of those with anterior chamber lenses had a long-term visual acuity of less than 20/200. Retinal detachment was less frequent in both groups of eyes than one would expect in an aphakic population. Thus, with intracapsular surgery anterior chamber lenses appear to afford many advantages.