ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of the minus diopter posterior chamber intraocular lens(PC IOL) implantation in highly myopic patients undergoing cataract extraction. METHODS: We have evaluated the outcome of 27 highly myopic patients(32 eyes) who had undergone extracapsular cataract extraction with minus diopter PC IOL implantation during the period from July 1995 to December 2000. RESULTS: At the time of the operation examined average axial length in the operated eyes was 31.8 mm and the average of calculated diopter of PC IOL was -2.45 diopter(D). There was no statistically significant difference between the preoperative and postoperative best corrected visual acuity in each inserted IOL diopter(p>0.05). The preoperative refraction ranged from -17D to 29D(-22.45D in average), and visual acuity improved by over 0.5 in 15 eyes(49.5%). After cataracts developed in 4 eyes(12.5%), requiring Nd-YAG laser posterior capsulotomy. There were no serious complications such as retinal detachment. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that PC IOL implantation after extracapsular cataract extraction in highly myopic eyes can improve the visual acuity, without in increased risk of after cataracts and complications such as retinal detachment.