CLEAR LENSECTOMY AND IMPLANTATION OF A LOW-POWER POSTERIOR CHAMBER INTRAOCULAR-LENS FOR CORRECTION OF HIGH MYOPIA - A 4-YEAR FOLLOW-UP

Purpose: To evaluate the 4-year postoperative outcomes of patients who are highly myopic who underwent clear lensectomy via phacoemulsificat ion and low power posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation. Met hods: The authors performed surgery in 52 eyes of 30 patients in which prophylactic retinal treatment, clear lensectomy, and posterior chamb er intraocular lens implantation were used to treat high myopia of 12 diopters (D) or greater. A total of 49 eyes of 28 patients were evalua ted at the 4-year postoperative timeframe. Visual acuity, complication s, and refractive stability were assessed. Results: The incidence of r etinal detachment through 4 years was 1.9%. No new macular complicatio ns were observed. Two patients had posterior vitreous detachment witho ut clinical impact between 1 and 4 years after surgery. The incidence of neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG) capsulotomy was 36.7%. The mean postoperativ e spherical equivalent was -0.92 D. Four patients had a myopic shift o f 0.50 D to 1.00 D from the 1- to 4-year timeframe. Corrected visual a cuity of 20/40 or better was achieved in 82% of eyes that had undergon e Nd:YAG capsulotomy versus 56% of untreated eyes. Uncorrected visual acuity of 20/100 or better was achieved in 82% of eyes treated with th e Nd:YAG laser versus 62% of untreated eyes. Conclusion: Visual acuity and refractive outcomes with clear lensectomy are favorable. Retinal detachment remains the major concern of this procedure. Continuous fol low-up of these patients is necessary.