Artificial iris exchange.

PURPOSE: To describe the indications, motivations, and outcomes of artificial iris exchange. SETTING: Stein Eye Institute. DESIGN: Consecutive case series. METHODS: Review of medical records of patients implanted with an artificial iris device who underwent a subsequent artificial iris exchange. RESULTS: Five patients were identified: 4 women and 1 man. Their ages ranged from 19 to 58 years at the time of the exchange. One patient had congenital aniridia; the other 4 had acquired iris defects. Three exchanges were simultaneous; 2 were consecutive. Corneal decompensation was the most common indication for the surgery precipitating the exchange. Explanted iris devices included models from Ophtec, Morcher, BrightOcular, and HumanOptics. Replacement models were from Morcher and HumanOptics. Three of the original irides were passively fixated in the capsular bag or ciliary sulcus. All of the replacement irides were suture-fixated to the sclera, either directly or secondarily by way of an intraocular lens. The motivation for the exchange was improved cosmesis in 4 patients and sustained cosmesis in 1 patient. Final visual acuities were 20/25 for 2 patients, 20/100 for 1 patient, and hand motion for 2 patients. CONCLUSIONS: No 2 iris exchanges were similar. Clinical indications and outcomes varied considerably from patient to patient. A common thread was each patient's motivation to maintain or improve on the functional and cosmetic benefits of having been previously implanted with an artificial iris device. Final visual acuity results were often poor because of the effects of comorbidities, especially glaucoma and corneal decompensation.