Artisan Phakic Intraocular Lens for Correcting High Myopia

Objectives: To evaluate the safety indexes and efficacy of Artisan phakic intraocular lens (IOL) for the correction of high myopia. Methods: Retrospective interventional case series reports. Thirty-one eyes (22 patients) with myopia from −5.25 to −19.00 diopters underwent implantation of an Artisan phakic IOL. Follow-up examinations were performed at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months. The following parameters were recorded: manifest refraction, slit-lamp examination, applanation tonometry, uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), complications or adverse reactions. The primary variable was the refractive outcome at 3 months. Secondary variables were change in BSCVA, and efficacy and safety indexes. Results: At 3 months, mean spherical equivalent was −0.50 ± 0.36 diopters (range, −1.25 – plano). In 29 eyes (93.5%) UCVA was 6/12 or better; the other three eyes had UCVA of 6/15. The difference between preoperative and 1 week postoperative BSCVA was not statistically significant (p=0.25). Comparison of BSCVA at 1 week and at 1 month was statistically significant (p=0.05); this difference was even more significant at 3 months (p=0.01). The BSCVA remained the same or improved for all the eyes. BSCVA for 20 eyes (64.5%) had improved one or more lines in visual acuity. Mean endothelial cell loss at 3 months was 3.96%. Conclusion: The Artisan lens is a safe, predictable, and efficacious method to correct high myopia. Postoperative gain in BSCVA was achieved for the majority of eyes. Future study to assess safety indexes and risk of complications is required with long-term follow-up.