Negative implant. A retrospective study.

Implantation of a negative power intraocular lens is one of the options for surgical correction of high myopia. We studied 36 eyes with a Fechner Worst Claw Lens, implanted in Groningen between March 1987 and November 1991. The preoperative myopia ranged from -7.00 to -30.00 diopters. Twenty one eyes had a follow up period of more than 12 months. The IOL power was calculated with the van der Heyde method. Correction within 1 diopters of emmetropia has been achieved in 55.5% of the cases. Deviation of more than 2 diopters occurred in 25%. In 24 eyes the best corrected postoperative visual acuity improved. Due to the IOL the retinal image increases in size as compared to spectacle correction. In none of the cases complications were encountered during surgery. In the postoperative period one IOL had to be replaced because of an error made in the calculation of the lens power. In one case endothelial decompensation occurred, probably due to a combination of compulsive eye rubbing and a preexisting cornea guttata. The rim of the IOL optic is the part which is the closet to the endothelium. Our recommendation is that one should avoid indentation of the cornea. No other serious complications occurred in this study.