Complications associated with STAAR silicone implants.

We compared the incidence of various complications in consecutive series of cases in which 76 eyes received STAAR silicone intraocular implants and 76 eyes received small incision IOLAB G708G polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) intraocular implants. All surgeries were performed by the same surgeon employing the same phacoemulsification technique. A higher incidence of lens subluxation, lens repositioning, corneal edema, and elevated intraocular pressure was observed in the eyes receiving STAAR silicone implants than in the eyes receiving IOLAB PMMA implants. In addition, a YAG laser posterior capsulotomy could not be performed through several STAAR silicone RMX 1 model implants. An invasive pars plana posterior capsulotomy was necessary in these eyes. We also found that the STAAR silicone RMX 3 model implants were often pitted by the YAG laser during successful posterior capsulotomies. Despite these problems, the STAAR silicone intraocular lens group achieved corrected vision similar to the PMMA lens group.