Vivarte may be alternative for high myopes

MADRID, Spain — More than half the patients implanted with CIBA Vision’s Vivarte phakic IOL had an uncorrected visual acuity of better than 20/40 at 6 months, according to a presentation here.

Alfredo Castillo, MD, told attendees here during the Congress of the European Society of Ophthalmology that the high level of patient satisfaction with the lens supports results of a 6-month trial for efficacy, safety and predictability.

Of the patients enrolled in the trial, 33 were available for follow-up at the 6-month mark. Average postop best corrected visual acuity was 20/30; 60% gained one or more lines and 40% gained two lines or more. Dr. Castillo said refractive stability was reached during the first postop week. No induced cataracts were found, and endothelial cell loss occurred in approximately 5% of patients. Dr. Castillo did note a transient increase in intraocular pressure, but the mean IOP of 14 mm Hg remained stable.

LASIK enhancements were required in 9.6% of follow-up patients. Retinal lesions were present in 2.4%; pupil ovalization occurred in 4.8%. To avoid that particular complication, “it is essential to choose the most suitable lens for the anterior segment,” Dr. Castillo said.

The multicenter, international trial included 83 patients with a mean age of 37. The manifest spherical equivalent was –13 D, and the mean power of the lens chosen was 13.8 D.

The most common IOL size used in this trial was 12.5. The Vivarte phakic IOL is available in 3, 12, 12.5, and 13 mm sizes, said Dr. Castillo. The diopter size ranges from –7 D to – 22 D in increments of -0.5 D.