ENDOTHELIAL CHANGES IN PHAKIC EYES WITH ANTERIOR-CHAMBER INTRAOCULAR LENSES TO CORRECT HIGH MYOPIA

Purpose: To evaluate the long-term endothelial cell loss after implant ation of Worst-Fechner and Baikoff ZB5M anterior chamber intraocular l enses. Setting: Jimenez-Diaz Foundation and San Carlos University Hosp ital, Madrid, Spain. Methods: Preoperative and serial postoperative sp ecular microscopy was performed on 30 eyes that had a Worst-Fechner le ns and on 28 eyes that had a Baikoff ZB5M lens to correct high myopia. A video specular microscope adapted to an image analysis system was u sed to analyze the endothelium for cell density. Follow-up was 24 mont hs. Results: In the Worst-Fechner lens group, postoperative endothelia l cell density was significantly lower than preoperative density at al l times (P < .001). Endothelial cell loss was 7.26% at 3 months, 10.64 % at 6 months, 13.00% at 12 months, and 17.60% at 24 months. In the Ba ikoff ZB5M lens group, postoperative cell density was also significant ly lower than preoperative density at all times (P < .001). It was 7.5 0% at 3 months, 10.94% at 6 months, 12.33% at 12 months, and 12.30% at 24 months. Cell loss did not stabilize between 1 and 2 years after su rgery in the Worst-Fechner group (P = .047). However, no additional ce ll loss was noted during this period in the Baikoff ZB5M group (P = .9 68). Endothelial cell densities in the two groups did not differ durin g the first year. However, 2 years after surgery, cell density in the Worst-Fechner group was significantly lower than it was in the ZB5M gr oup (P = .048). Conclusions: Endothelial cell loss during the first ye ar was similar in eyes with Worst-Fechner and Baikoff ZB5M lenses; how ever, at 2 years after surgery, endothelial cell loss was higher in ey es with Worst-Fechner lenses than it was in eyes with Baikoff ZB5M len ses.