Pupillary reconstruction and functional outcome after artificial iris implantation

Session Details

Session Title: Presented Poster Session: News on Phaco

Session Date/Time: Tuesday 08/09/2015 | 09:30-11:00

Paper Time: 10:10

Venue: Poster Village: Pod 4

First Author: : A.Hoffmann GERMANY

Co Author(s): :    C. Lohmann   C. Mayer           

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Patients with iris defects suffer from severe visual impairment, especially increased glare sensitivity, and cosmetic disturbances. This constitutes a great psychological strain for the patients concerned. In the recent past, the treatment consisted of iris print contact lenses, sunglasses and simple iris prostheses. Indications for surgical treatment were colobomas of the iris, aniridia, traumatic iris defects and persistent mydriasis. The aim of this study was to investigate functional outcome and patient satisfaction after implantation of a new artificial iris prosthesis.

Setting:

In a prospective case series 28 consecutive patients with traumatic iris defects presenting from 2011 until 2014 at the Department of Ophthalmology, Technical University of Munich were included in the analysis. All patients received pupillary reconstruction by the new artificial iris implant.

Methods:

The custom-made, flexible silicone iris prosthesis ArtificialIris (HumanOptics) is an innovative option in surgical treatment of iris defects. Patients were examined before and after iris reconstruction with the complete iris implant placed in the ciliary sulcus. Change of best corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, pupillary opening, glare, contrast sensitivity, endothelial cell count, anterior chamber depth, anterior chamber angle and patient satisfaction were assessed.

Results:

28 eyes of 28 patients (mean age 51,4±15,8 years) were included. Best corrected visual acuity (p=0,751) and intraocular pressure (p=0,396) showed no statistically significant differences before and after implantation. A significant reduction of the pupillary opening (43,1±19,8 to 8,7±0,3 mm2; p=0,000004) was observed. Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity increased slightly (0,83±0,49 to 1,03±0,43; p=0,061) whereas there was a decrease in endothelial cell count after surgery (2019±716 to 1790±748/mm2; p=0,001). Anterior chamber depth (p=0,07) and angle (p=0,733) showed no significant differences. Subjective impairment through glare (p=0,001) and cosmetic disturbance (p=0,003) improved considerably. Patient satisfaction with the overall result was 8,91±1,51 of 10 points.

Conclusions:

The implantation of the artificial iris is a new and effective therapeutic option for the treatment of distinctive traumatic iris defects and leads to an individual, aesthetically appealing and good functional outcome in addition to high patient satisfaction.

Financial Interest:

NONE