First Author: N.Kaplan GERMANY
Co Author(s): H. Dick N. Pfeiffer U. Vossmerbaeumer
Purpose:
Phakic iris-claw IOL (PIOL) have been implanted for over twenty years in moderate to high myopia and hyperopia. The decision for such an implant is usually driven by high expectations as to visual quality, long-term stability and gain in lifestyle quality on the patients side. Factors inherent to the PIOL and external conditions may influence the degree of strategic success of the method. The purpose of our study was to assess the patients perception of the value of the PIOL and to identify influencing factors.
Setting:
non-interventional cohort study/Department of Ophthalmology, University of Mainz, Germany; Department of Ophthalmology, Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum, Germany
Methods:
72 consecutive patients who received a phakic iris-claw implant (Verisyse®, Veriflex®) between 1999 and 2006 for myopia and hyperopia were invited to participate in the survey. The study included a free appointment with detailed examinations and a questionnaire containing 18 questions on the visual impression, habits and vision-dependent lifestyle. Answers were quantitative on a five-grade scale. The subjective appreciation of the participants was correlated to visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, endothelial cell count and clinical history.
Results:
64 out of 72 patients (88.9%) responded to the invitation. Mean follow-up time was 7.42±1.9. Overall satisfaction was 1.9±0.9, no significant differences were found between the groups (myopic, hyperopic, astigmatic). 42.6% of the myopes, and 20% of the hyperopes were spectacle free for distance, 45.3% required glasses for near vision. 32.8% rated the result as better than expected and 82.8% would recommend the surgery to relatives, only 1.6% were discontent. 79.7% rated current vision equally good or even better than at the time of surgery. Visual side-phenomena such as halos were reported by 90.6%, however only 48.4% perceived them as a serious disturbance.
Conclusions:
Phakic iris-claw IOL may provide a high degree of long-term satisfaction for myopia and hyperopia. Even after a mean of 7.42 years with the implant, patients report a vivid appreciation of the change in visual independence brought by the surgery. Minor visual side effects are not perceived as particularly disturbing and the vast majority of patients would consider again having the PIOL. This illustrates the value of the implant for young candidates who are set to live with it for decades. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE?: No
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