Long-term endothelial cell loss with the iris-claw intraocular phakic lenses (Artisan®).

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the endothelial cell loss in patients with iris-claw phakic lenses (Artisan®) in a long-term follow-up. METHODS: We analyzed the medical records of patients who had undergone iris-claw phakic lens implantation and who had at least 5 years of follow-up. RESULTS: We included 67 eyes with myopic errors (follow-up 9.6 ± 3.0 years) and 10 eyes with mixed astigmatism or hyperopic errors (follow-up 8.8 ± 2.5 years). The mean total endothelial density loss at the last follow-up visit was 18.5% ± 17.0% and 10.5% ± 12.3%, respectively. 29.9% of the eyes in the myopic group and 20% in the hyperopic group lost more than 25% of the preoperative endothelial cell density. During the postoperative follow-up period, 60.8% of the eyes in the myopic group and 40% of the eyes in the hyperopic group lost a higher percentage than the expected physiological loss. Two eyes in the myopic group (3.0%) had a final cell density of less than 1200 cells/mm2. None of the variables studied had a statistically significant association with the percentage of annual endothelial loss in the postoperative period. Three phakic lenses were explanted two by cataract and one by cataract and severe decrease of the endothelial density (862 cells/mm2). CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant endothelial cell loss in a low percentage of the eyes with Artisan® lenses in the long term, and it can decrease to critical levels. Periodic endothelial density evaluations are required for these patients. The selection criteria of surgical candidates could be reevaluated.