Four-year Follow-up of the Changes in Anterior Segment After Phakic Collamer Lens Implantation.

PURPOSE

To assess the changes and relationship in central vaulting, flare intensity, and crystalline lens thickness during a follow-up period of 4 years after implantable collamer lens (ICL) implantation in eyes with high myopia.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational study.

METHODS

Ninety-eight eyes of 50 patients were followed up with routine measurements of central vaulting, crystalline lens thickness, endothelial cell density, and aqueous flare postoperatively. Data were analyzed by repeated-measures analysis of variance. The relationship between the annual change in crystal lens thickness after surgery and age was evaluated by Pearson correlation coefficient and linear regression.

RESULTS

There was a continuous reduction in central vaulting and endothelial cell density as well as an increase in crystalline lens thickness in ICL eyes from 1 month onward to 5 years postoperatively (P < .001). Although the trend of variation during the individual visit period was accentuated, the variation turned out to be smaller between 12 and 36 months or 60 months postoperatively (P = .42, P = .65). Aqueous flare intensity increased significantly after surgery and returned to normal 1 year later. Additionally, a positive correlation between patient age and crystalline lens thickness (r = 0.617, P < .0001) was observed in eyes with ICL implantation.

CONCLUSIONS

The changes in central vaulting, endothelial cell density, and crystalline lens thickness are more prominent during the first year after ICL implantation, tending to be relatively stable afterwards. The anterior inflammation during the early postoperative period synchronizes with the sharp progression of crystalline lens changes within the first year.