Lens opacities after posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens implantation

PURPOSE: To describe a case series to determine the incidence of lens opacities after posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens (IOL) implantation (STAAR Surgical, Monrovia, CA) for very high ametropias. DESIGN: Retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series. PARTICIPANTS: Fourteen eyes of 170 consecutive eyes with high ametropias in whom lens opacities developed after posterior chamber phakic IOL implant (PCPIOL). INTERVENTION: Posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens implant. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Lens opacity appearance, localization, and clinical course. RESULTS: Fourteen eyes developed lens opacities 125 +/- 116 days after phakic IOL implant. All eyes had anterior subcapsular opacities, and two eyes also developed nuclear sclerosis. The anterior opacities did not extend posteriorly within the lens, and there were no posterior subcapsular cataracts. Seventy-one percent of opacities were first seen