Long‐term clinical results of posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens implantation to correct myopia

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine whether implantable collamer lens (ICL) implantation to correct myopia is an effective and safe surgical option even after long-term follow up. DESIGN: A retrospective observational study was carried out. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 281 eyes of 145 myopic patients were included in the study. METHODS: Patients underwent ICL implantation and had the follow-up period of at least 5 years (87 ± 18.9 months). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcome measures included uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuities, refraction for the evaluation of efficacy, safety, stability and predictability, ICL vault and adverse events. RESULTS: The final mean logMAR uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuities were 0.02 ± 0.19 and -0.12 ± 0.13, respectively. The mean efficacy and safety indices were 1.04 ± 0.32 and 1.20 ± 0.26. The mean spherical equivalent decreased from -8.74 ± 2.27 diopter (D) to -0.58 ± 0.72 D, and there was high predictability with 69.8% and 87.2% having a postoperative refraction within 0.5 D and 1.0 D, respectively. The mean postoperative vault was changed from 2.53 ± 0.6 to 2.00 ± 0.7. Six (2.1%) eyes developed cataract, and the mean endothelial cell loss was 7.8 ± 8.3%. Increased intraocular pressure was found in two (0.7%) eyes that required the exchange of lenses with different sizes. CONCLUSIONS: Implantable collamer lens implantation to correct myopia was an effective and safe surgery with high predictability and stability during long-term follow up. Slight myopic shift and cataract formation related with change in vault should be further evaluated.