Foldable phakic IOL improved distance visual acuity better than myopic wavefront-guided PRK

J Cataract Refract Surg. 2011;37(2):370-377.

While eyes treated with a foldable phakic IOL experienced significantly higher visual gains at distance than eyes that underwent PRK, there were no significant differences in safety and efficacy between the patient groups at 1 year, according to a study.

In a comparative case series, researchers examined 93 eyes of 60 patients with low to moderate myopia who underwent refractive surgery. Specifically, 60 eyes received myopic wavefront-guided PRK and 33 eyes were implanted with a Artiflex foldable phakic IOL (Ophtec). At baseline, all patients had a spherical error of between –4 D and –7 D and a cylindrical error no greater than 2.25 D.

Postoperative differences in visual acuity and residual refractive outcomes were compared for 1 year.

At 1 year, mean decimal Snellen uncorrected distance visual acuity was 1.04 D in the phakic IOL group and 1.05 D in the PRK group

Mean corrected distance visual acuity was 1.24 D in the phakic IOL group and 1.21 in the PRK group.

There were no statistically significant differences between the phakic IOL group and the PRK group after 1 year, in either safety or efficacy, the study authors said. However, more eyes gained lines of corrected distance visual acuity in the phakic IOL group.

"We were somewhat surprised by the small but statistically significant reduction in keratometric cylindrical error in the [phakic] IOL group," the study authors said.