Visual acuity improvement in adult amblyopic eyes with an iris-fixated phakic intraocular lens: Long-term results

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of implantation of iris-fixated phakic intraocular lenses (pIOLs) (Artisan) in adult amblyopic eyes. SETTING: Optical Express, London, United Kingdom. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: The study analyzed data from 5 years of follow-up of amblyopic eyes that were implanted with iris-fixated pIOLs and had a preoperative corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) of 6/15 or worse. Visual acuity, refraction, endothelial cell count, and complications were assessed. RESULTS: Data for 103 eyes were analyzed as 2 groups. Group 1 comprised 82 eyes with myopia or myopic astigmatism, and Group 2 contained 21 eyes with hyperopia or hyperopic astigmatism. The mean preoperative sphere in Group 1 was -13.42 diopters (D) +/- 5.62 (SD) with a mean cylinder of -2.35 +/- 1.75 D. In Group 2, the mean sphere and cylinder were +6.77 +/- 1.91 D and -2.63 +/- 2.43 D, respectively. The mean CDVA improved from 0.51 +/- 0.15 logMAR to 0.34 +/- 0.16 logMAR (P<.001) in Group 1 and from 0.54 +/- 0.17 logMAR to 0.46 +/- 0.14 logMAR in Group 2 (P<.005). The safety index was 1.48 in Group 1 and 1.19 in Group 2. The efficacy index was 1.21 in Group 1 and 1.00 in Group 2. The mean gain in CDVA was statistically significantly greater in Group 1 (0.17 +/- 0.14 logMAR) than in Group 2 (0.08 +/- 0.11 logMAR). Two or more lines of CDVA were gained by 48.8% of eyes in Group 1 and by 19.0% of eyes in Group 2. CONCLUSION: The iris-fixated pIOL was a safe and effective option for improving visual acuity in adult amblyopic eyes.