Customized artificial iris implantation as an approach for pupil reconstruction in patients with aniridia

Session Details

Session Title: Endophthalmitis/ Ocular Infections/ Miscellaneous

Session Date/Time: Tuesday 10/10/2017 | 08:00-10:30

Paper Time: 09:39

Venue: Room 4.6

First Author: : L.Spekreijse THE NETHERLANDS

Co Author(s): :    C. Pedrosa   R. Nuijts                 

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To present the outcomes of implantation of a foldable customized Artificial Iris (AI) in patients with congenital aniridia (3 eyes) or acquired (partial) aniridia (25 eyes).

Setting:

Hospital Prof. Dr. Fernando Fonseca E.P.E., Lisbon, Portugal. University Eye Clinic, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands

Methods:

Retrospective review of consecutive medical records (27 eyes from 26 patients). Records from all patients who underwent implantation of an AI (HumanOptics, Erlangen, Germany) at the University Eye Clinic in Maastricht, the Netherlands, from March 2009 to March 2017 were analyzed during a median follow up of 25 months (0.2- 93 months). In all patients, the foldable silicone iris prosthesis was implanted in the sulcus and scleral sutures were used in 10 eyes.

Results:

No intraoperative complications occurred, besides subluxation of an IOL-capsular bag complex in 1 eye, with suturing of the 3-piece IOL to the AI. Postoperative median anterior chamber depth and median lens-pupil distance were 3.831mm and 0.540mm, respectively. Postoperative best corrected visual acuity (p=0.111) and intra-ocular pressure (p=0.647) did not vary significantly. However, postoperative endothelial cell count decreased significantly (p=0.012). Repositioning of the AI was necessary in 1 eye. In 2 cases the implant was explanted due to (pre-existent) corneal decompensation and inflammation with high IOP. All patients revealed significant reduction of glare and photophobia and were satisfied with the cosmetic result.

Conclusions:

Implantation of an Artifical Iris is a safe surgical procedure to achieve pupil reconstruction in patients suffering from either congenital or acquired aniridia. Postoperatively, cosmetic outcomes are very satisfying and patients reported reduction of visual complains, with similar median best-corrected visual acuity as pre-operatively. Furthermore, IOP did not vary significantly when compared to pre-operative values, whereas endothelial cell count decreased significantly.

Financial Disclosure:

research is funded, fully or partially, by a company producing, developing or supplying the product or procedure presented