Nine-year follow-up of a posterior chamber phakic IOL in one eye and LASIK in the fellow eye of the same patient

PURPOSE: To compare the long-term results (9 years) of LASIK in one eye and phakic intraocular lens (implantable contact lens ICL]) implantation in the fellow eye of the same patient. METHODS: A patient with high myopia underwent LASIK with a MEL 60 excimer laser in one eye (spherical equivalent refraction -9.75 diopters D], 5-mm optical zone with no transition zone) and phakic intraocular lens (STAAR Collamer implantable contact lens ICL]) implantation (spherical equivalent refraction -9.50 D) in the fellow eye. RESULTS: At 9 years postoperatively, the mean spherical equivalent refraction was -1.00 in the eye with the ICL and -1.75 D in the eye that underwent LASIK. During the first 6 postoperative months in the LASIK eye, refraction regressed, but remained stable during the remainder of follow-up. Uncorrected visual acuity was 20/25 in the eye with the ICL and 20/30 in the LASIK eye, whereas best spectacle-corrected visual acuity was 20/20 in both eyes. Less night vision problems (glare and halos) were experienced in the eye with the ICL compared to the LASIK eye. Although the patient initially preferred the LASIK procedure, at last follow-up 9 years postoperatively, increased overall satisfaction was reported for the eye with the ICL compared to the LASIK eye. CONCLUSIONS: Nine years after treatment of high myopia with the ICL and LASIK in the same patient, better quality of vision, stability, and satisfaction score were achieved in the eye with the ICL compared to the eye that had undergone LASIK. No long-term sight-threatening complications were found during followup.