The Surgical Outcome of Clear Lens Extraction for Correction of Severe High Myopia

ABSTRACT

The authors performed clear lens extraction to treat severe high myopia more than 12 diopters (D) of 24 eyes. The changes in spherical equivalent (S.E). visual acuity improvement, and the complications were evaluated during the average 15 months follow-up period. A scleral pocket incision and continuous curvilinear capsulohexis was made and lens extraction was performed via phacoeomulsification and low power posterior chamber intraocular lens was implanted. The postoperative refractive error targets were -1.0 D in 16 eyes. and -3.0 D in 8 eyes. Sixty-two percent(15/24 eyes) of eyes were within +/-1 D of targeted refractive error and 91.7%(22/24 eyes) of eyes were within +/-2 D of targeted refractive error. The postoperative uncorrected visual acuities were increased in all cases and 95.8%(23/24 eyes) of eyes gained two or more lines. There were increase in uncorrected visual acuity achieving 20/200 or more from 0% to 95.8%(23/24 eyes) postoperatively. The postoperative corrected visual acuities were increased in 83.3%(20/24 eyes) and 75%(15/20 eyes) among them gained two or more lines. The corrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better were increased from 41.7%(10/24 eyes) preoperatively to 79.2%(19/24 eyes) postoperatively. Posterior capsular opacification was developed in one eye and YAG laser posterior capsulotomy was performed at 4 months postoperatively. No retinal break, no retinal detach ment, no cystoid macular edema were developed during the follow-up period. In conclusion, the clear lens extraction was effective method for correction of severe high myopia but longer follow-up of large number of cases is needed to fully assess the complications.