Ultrasound biomicroscopy of the iris-claw phakic intraocular lens for high myopia

PURPOSE: To study the in situ relative intraocular position of the Ophtec Artisan iris-claw phakic intraocular lens (PIOL) for high myopia using ultrasound biomicroscopy. METHODS: Three PIOLs (13.00, 17.00 and 18.00 D lens powers) were implanted in phakic myopic eyes. Using ultrasound biomicroscopy, echograms were taken in the anterior chamber to measure the preoperative anterior chamber depth, postoperative distance between the PIOL and the corneal endothelium (endothelial-optic distance), and the postoperative distance between the PIOL and the crystalline lens. RESULTS: Preoperative anterior chamber depth ranged from 3.10 to 3.40 mm and the postoperative endothelial-optic distance measured 2.11 to 2.44 mm. The distance between the crystalline lens and the posterior surface of the IOL ranged from 0.78 to 0.93 mm. Several echograms revealed the position of the PIOL on the iris. The pigment layer of the iris did not seem to be disturbed by the presence of the PIOL. CONCLUSION: The original anterior chamber depths were reduced by 28% to 34% after implantation. The PIOL-crystalline lens distance ranged from 0.78 to 0.93 mm. This study of 3 eyes revealed that echograms taken by ultrasound biomicroscopy are useful in verifying the intraocular position of the PIOL within the anterior chamber.