A prospective study on the implantation of anterior chamber intraocular lenses during keratoplasty for pseudophakic and aphakic bullous keratopathy

Between April 1986 and April 1989, the authors conducted a prospective study of the use of open-loop anterior chamber intraocular lenses (AC IOLs) in patients undergoing penetrating keratoplasty for pseudophakic bullous keratopathy or monocular aphakic bullous keratopathy. All patients underwent the same operation--a penetrating keratoplasty combined with insertion of an open-loop AC IOL. Pseudophakic patients had an IOL exchange at the time of surgery. Thirty-six patients have been followed an average of 15 months. Thirty-two (89%) of the grafts are clear. Preoperatively, 100% of eyes had visual acuity less than 20/200. Postoperatively, 11 eyes (31%) have visual acuity better than 20/40 and 23 eyes (64%) have visual acuity better than 20/100. The most common causes for visual acuity less than 20/200 were cystoid macular edema, glaucoma, and immunologic graft failure. Using open-loop AC IOLs in patients with pseudophakic or aphakic bullous keratopathy can give good postoperative results and functional vision.