Contrast sensitivity after posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens implantation for high myopia

PURPOSE: To evaluate contrast sensitivity after posterior chamber phakic in traocular lens (PIOL) implantation for the correction of high myopia. METHODS: Twenty eyes of ten patients had a posterior chamber phakic intraoc ular lens (Staar ICL) implanted to correct high myopia. Mean preoperative m yopia was -14.10 +/- 2.70 D. Follow-up was 24 months for all patients. Cont rast sensitivity was tested with best spectacle-corrected visual acuity pre operatively and 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Contrast sensitivity increased after surgery in all spatial freque ncies. Normal values were achieved for low and intermediate spatial frequen cies (3 and 6 c/deg). However, in spite of the improvement, values were sti ll below normal for high spatial frequencies (12 and 18 c/deg). When the fi rst postoperative examination was not considered, there were no statistical ly significant differences in contrast sensitivity values at different post operative periods. CONCLUSION: Contrast sensitivity increased after posterior chamber phakic i ntraocular lens implantation (Staar ICL) in all spatial frequencies when co mpared to preoperative contrast sensitivity (best spectacle-corrected).