Alterations in the anterior chamber angle after implantation of iris-fixated phakic intraocular lenses

PURPOSE: To evaluate anterior chamber angle alterations after phakic intraocular lens (pIOL) implantation using the Pentacam rotating Scheimpflug camera (Oculus) and the effect on intraocular pressure (IOP) and anterior chamber inflammation. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. METHODS: Twenty eyes of 11 patients with high myopia who had implantation of pIOLs (Artisan/Verisyse, model 204, Ophtec BV) were included. All pIOLs were fixated on the iris near the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions. Angles at the 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, and 10 o'clock positions, IOP, and postoperative flare were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: The mean angle degree at 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, and 10 o'clock was 40.3 degrees +/- 3.3 (SD) preoperatively and 36.5 +/- 5.8 degrees postoperatively; the postoperative angles were significantly narrower than the preoperative angles (P<.001). The mean angles at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock were 39.8 +/- 3.7 degrees and 40.6 +/- 3.5 degrees, respectively, preoperatively and 32.7 +/- 6.0 degrees and 31.3 +/- 5.4 degrees, respectively, postoperatively. The postoperative angles at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock were narrower than the preoperative angles (P<.001). There was no significant difference between preoperative IOP and postoperative IOP (P = .22). The flare at 1 month (r = 0.573, P = .0071) and 1 year (r = 0.700, P = .004) was significantly correlated with the angle change. CONCLUSION: Partial localized narrowing of anterior chamber angles that occurred after pIOL implantation induced acute and chronic anterior chamber inflammation in patients with large angle alterations.