Prosthetic iris implant effective in patients with albinism

Implanting a prosthetic iris device appears effective for managing iris deficiency related to albinism, according to a study by researchers in Ohio. Most patients experienced reductions in glare and photophobia postoperatively, the study authors noted.

Ekaterini C. Karatza, MD, MPA, and colleagues reviewed outcomes for 13 eyes of eight patients implanted with prosthetic iris devices to treat diminished iris pigment epithelia secondary to albinism. They published their results in the October issue of Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.

All eyes received anterior segment surgery with IOL and prosthetic iris device implantation. Specifically, surgeons implanted an endocapsular-type iris reconstruction implant (Morcher aniridia interdigitating rings) in 11 eyes and a combined iris-IOL device (Ophtec model 311) in two eyes of one patient, according to the study.

Postoperatively, all eyes had achieved the desired anatomic result, the authors noted.

Best corrected visual acuity improved in eight eyes, remained stable in three eyes and decreased in two eyes. In addition, glare and photophobia subjectively improved in six patients, remained unchanged in one patient and increased in one patient after implantation of an artificial iris diaphragm, the authors reported.

No patients experienced intraoperative or postoperative complications, they noted.