Long Term Corneal Endothelial Cell Density Loss after Iris-fixed Phakic Intraocular Lens Implantation

PURPOSE: To report three cases of severe endothelial cell density loss after iris claw phakic intraocular lens (Artisan® lens) implantation. CASE SUMMARY: A 32-year-old woman underwent iris claw intraocular lens implantation in both eyes. Preoperative corneal endothelial cell count was 2,556 cells/mm² in the right eye and 2,674 cells/mm² in the left eye. After 4 years, the corneal endothelial cell count was 1,968 cells/mm² in the right eye and 1,997 cells/mm² in the left eye. A 27-year-old woman underwent iris claw intraocular lens implantation in both eyes. Preoperative corneal endothelial cell count was 3,222 cells/mm² in the right eye and 3,122 cells/mm² in the left eye. After 4 years 8 months, the corneal endothelial cell count was 2,729 cells/mm² in the right eye and 2,488 cells/mm² in the left eye. A 39-year-old woman underwent phakic intraocular lens implantation in other clinic, and the lens of left eye was removed the same day because of elevated intraocular pressure. She underwent iris claw intraocular lens implantation in the left eye. Preoperative corneal endothelial cell count was 2,500 cells/mm² in the left eye, which decreased to 1,873 cells/mm² after 8 years. Six months after intraocular lens removal and cataract surgery, her cornea endothelial cell count was 1,412 cells/mm². CONCLUSIONS: Although iris-fixed intraocular lens implantation is safe and effective for correcting myopia, at least 4 years of long-term observation for evaluating corneal endothelial cell density maybe necessary.

Two-year Endothalial Changes after Iris Fixed Phakic Intraocular Lens Implantation in Korean

PURPOSE: To investigate quantitative and morphometric endothelial changes in phakic eyes implanted with an iris-fixed phakic intraocular lens in Korean patients. METHODS: We prospectively examined the endothelial cell density (ECD), ECD loss (ECL), coefficient variations (CV), and frequency of Hexagons (6A) in 46 phakic eyes implanted with an iris-fixed phakic intraocular lens. The effect of anterior chamber depth (ACD) and diopter of iris-fixed phakic intraocular lens on ECD was statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Preoperative mean ECD was 2923+/-257 cells/mm2. ECL at postoperative 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 monthswas 0.71%, 0.88%, 0.70%, 0.64%, and 2.34%. It was significant only in the month 24 results. The mean CV value at the same time was 0.343, 0.342, 0.334, 0.329, 0.326, and 0.338. The change was significant at the 12th month. The mean 6A value at the same time was 58.2%, 57.8%, 59.7%, 59.6%, 60.1%, and 58.8%. There was no significant change in 6A value. Preoperative ACD and diopter of iris-fixed phakic intraocular lens didn't affect the ECD change. CONCLUSIONS: This two-year follow-up study of changes in endothelial cells after implantation iris-fixated phakic intraocular lens showed statistically significant decreases in the cells, which is not very significant considering the physiologic reduction rate of the cells. Thses decreases showed a tendency to be stabilized with recovery of morphological changes. Further long-term follow-up is needed to determine its long-lasting effect.

Short-term Change in Corneal Endothelium after Iris-Fixed Phakic Intraocular Lens Insertion

PURPOSE: To investigate endothelial change in phakic eyes implanted with Artisan phakic IOL inserts and to identify the associated factors. METHODS: We prospectively examined the endothelial change in 11 phakic eyes implanted with Artisan phakic IOL inserts. Noncontact specular microscopy was performed preoperatively, and at 1 week and 1 month postoperatively. RESULTS: The mean endothelial cell loss was 3.57% at 1 week, and 4.69% at 1 month. There was a statistically significant decrease in endothelial cell density and an increase in pleomorphism and polymegathism of the cells after the surgery which indicate cellular damage (p0.05). No correlation was observed between cell loss and corneal curvature, critical distance, IOL optic size, IOL diopter, or serial order of the operation. However, there was significant negative correlation (R=-7.600; p>0.05) between cell loss and anterior chamber depth. CONCLUSIONS: Endothelial damage occurred primarily during the surgical procedure and special attention should be given to patients with shallow anterior chamber depth for iris-fixed phakic IOL inserts to avoid unintended endothelial damage.