Phakic intraocular lens implantation in United States military warfighters: a retrospective analysis of early clinical outcomes of the Visian ICL.

PURPOSE To assess short-term clinical outcomes after implantation of phakic intraocular lenses (Visian ICL, STAAR Surgical Co) in US military warfighters who are not good candidates for laser vision correction. METHODS A retrospective interventional consecutive case series analysis of all eyes that underwent ICL surgery during a 14-month time period was performed. Main outcome measures included indications for surgery, efficacy, predictability, and early adverse events. RESULTS Three-month postoperative visual data were available for 135 eyes of 69 patients who underwent ICL implantation during the study period. Indications included abnormal corneal topography (37%), thin predicted residual bed following LASIK (32%), history of dry eye (13%), thin corneal thickness (11%), or other (7%). Mean patient age was 30.9 ± 6.6 years. Mean preoperative spherical equivalent refraction was -6.00 ± 1.92 diopters (D) (range: -2.63 to -11.50 D). Three months postoperative, uncorrected distance visual acuity of 20/20 or better was found in 129/135 (96%) eyes and 91/135 (67%) were 20/15 or better. Manifest refraction and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) data were available for 128 eyes. Forty-two (33%) eyes had improvement of one or more lines of CDVA. One hundred fifteen eyes (90%) were within ± 0.50 D of emmetropia, and predictability within ± 0.75 D was found in 127/128 (99%) eyes. No significant intra- or postoperative complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS This retrospective analysis of 3-month outcomes suggests that Visian ICL implantation in myopic warfighters provides excellent refractive and visual results. Further study is needed to evaluate long-term results.