A retrospective analysis of the first Indian experience on Artisan phakic intraocular lens.

PURPOSE To evaluate the efficacy, safety, predictability and stability of implanting a polymethylmethacrylate phakic intraocular lens (PIOL) in high myopia. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective analysis of the data of patients who underwent Artisan phakic IOL implantation between 2002 and 2003 with a follow-up of at least 24 months. RESULTS An Artisan myopia lens was implanted in 60 eyes of 36 patients with preoperative myopia ranging from -5.0 to -24.0 D. Mean patient age was 22.6 years. Mean spherical equivalent of manifest refraction stabilized by the first postoperative week. At three months follow-up, 54 eyes (90%) had a postoperative refraction within +/- 1D emmetropia and 45 eyes (75%) had uncorrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better. Seven eyes (11.6%) had loss of one Snellen line and none had loss of two Snellen lines or more at three months. The mean endothelial cell loss was 3.8% at three months, 5.2% at six months, 5.25% at 12 months and 6.38% at two years, which was not significant. Postoperative complications included anterior chamber reaction in two eyes (3.3%), rise in intraocular pressure in six eyes (10%) and dislocation of PIOL in two eyes (3.3%). CONCLUSION Implantation of Artisan myopia lens to correct high myopia resulted in a stable and fairly predictable refractive outcome with few complications. Significant endothelial damage was not detected in two years of follow-up.