NEGATIVE IMPLANT - A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Implantation of a negative power intraocular lens is one of the option s for surgical correction of high myopia. We studied 36 eyes with a Fe chner Worst Claw Lens, implanted in Groningen between March 1987 and N ovember 1991. The preoperative myopia ranged from -7.00 to -30.00 diop ters. Twentyone eyes had a follow up period of more than 12 months. Th e [OL power was calculated with the van der Heyde method. Correction w ithin 1 diopters of emmetropia has been achieved in 55.5% of the cases . Deviation of more than 2 diopters occurred in 25%. In 24 eyes the be st corrected postoperative visual acuity improved. Due to the IOL the retinal image increases in size as compared to spectacle correction. I n none of the cases complications were encountered during surgery. In the postoperative period one IOL had to be replaced because of an erro r made in the calculation of the lens power. In one case endothelial d ecompensation occurred, probably due to a combination of compulsive ey e rubbing and a preexisting cornea guttata. The rim of the IOL optic i s the part which is the closest to the endothelium. Our recommendation is that one should avoid indentation of the cornea. No other serious complications occurred in this study.