Iris claw phakic intraocular lens

Background In refractive surgery there is a choice between numerous procedures for the treatment of refractive errors. In general, there are additive methods in which an artificial lens is implanted (refractive lens implantation) and subtractive methods in which corneal tissue is removed using different laser methods. This article focuses on the iris claw phakic intraocular lens. Material and methods Currently, there are rigid and flexible iris claw phakic intraocular lenses available. The great advantage of the foldable version compared to the rigid lens is that the flexible lens can be implanted into the eye through a small 3.2 & x202f;mm incision, resulting in decreased surgically induced astigmatism and faster visual recovery Results In this study 136 eyes from 79 patients with a mean age of 38 +/- 9.5 years (range 20-61 years), a mean spherical equivalent of -8.85 & x202f;D & x202f;+/- 2.28 & x202f;D (range -2.63 & x202f;D to -13.75 & x202f;D) and a mean preoperative cylinder of 1.95 & x202f;D & x202f;+/- 0.82 & x202f;D (1-5 & x202f;D) underwent implantation of toric Artiflex (R) phakic intraocular lens. After 24 months the mean spherical equivalent was -0.08 & x202f;D (-1.25 & x202f;D to +0.63 & x202f;D), all eyes were within +/- 1 & x202f;D and 96% of the eyes were within +/- 0.5 & x202f;D of the target refraction. The uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) was 1.0 or better in 85%, 1.25 or better in 54% and 1.6 or better in 16% of eyes 2 years after surgery. A slight loss of endothelial cells of 0.89% occurred at 24 months. There were no postoperative complications. Conclusion The implantation of iris claw phakic intraocular lenses is an effective, predictable, stable, and safe method for the correction of moderate and high myopia and astigmatism.