Anterior chamber phakic IOL shows promise in 2-year study

San Diego-The I-CARE anterior chamber foldable phakic IOL (CORNEAL, Paris, France) seems to provide excellent anatomic and visual results 2 years after implantation.

The I-CARE IOL is a single-piece, acrylic, hydrophilic implant with an optical diameter of 5.75 mm. It is used to treat myopia ranging from –5 to –20 D, with 0.25-D incre-ments, according to Simonetta Morselli, MD, director of anterior segment surgery in the department of ophthalmology, Hospital and University of Verona, Italy. She reported the findings of a study conducted in Verona with this IOL here at the annual meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

"The lens slowly unfolds into the anterior chamber. In some case, a manipulator is needed to place the loops of the lens in the correct position in the iridocorneal angle of the eye. The viscoelastic material is then removed with irrigation and aspiration cannulas," Dr. Morselli reported.

In addition, the position of the lens was highly stable. Three eyes had a decentered lens. There were no other complications such as cataract, retinal detachment, uveitis, or increases in IOP.

The investigators found that five lenses were too short and four lenses were too long. No lens had to be replaced. Dr. Morselli suggested that better sizing of the lenses is needed.

When Dr. Morselli and colleagues compared the patients who underwent an iridectomy with those who did not, they found that there was no difference between the two groups.

"The I-CARE IOL provided stable anatomic and visual results in this series of eyes. This lens was easy to implant, gave good postoperative results, and was well tolerated. The critical point of this lens is the size. Due to the characteristics of this lens, oversize is better than undersize," Dr. Morselli concluded.OT