PENETRATING KERATOPLASTY WITH ANTERIOR OR POSTERIOR CHAMBER INTRAOCULAR-LENS IMPLANTATION

Objective: To compare the outcome of anterior chamber (AC) intraocular lens (IOL) implantation with the outcome of posterior chamber (PC) IO L implantation at the time of penetrating keratoplasty in the absence of capsular support. Design: Retrospective study of 122 eyes that unde rwent secondary IOL implantation without capsular support at the time of penetrating keratoplasty. Ninety eyes received an AC IOL and 32 rec eived a PC IOL sutured to the iris or the ciliary sulcus. Results: Sur vival analysis showed the probability of a clear graft to be 86% for e yes with an AC IOL and 90% for eyes with a PC IOL at 1 year. Intraocul ar pressure rose by 5 mm Hg or more in 30% of eyes with AC IOLs and 5% of eyes with PC IOLs. Visual acuity was better than 20/200 in 48% of eyes with AC IOLs and 68% of eyes with PC IOLs. Conclusion: This study demonstrated a trend for a better outcome with PC IOLs than AC IOLs f or secondary implantation at time of penetrating keratoplasty in the a bsence of capsular support.