Study examines quality of vision results after phakic IOL implantation

Halos are the most common complaint for patients who received an implantable collamer lens (ICL) (Staar Surgical) to address myopia, according to a team of investigators from the Department of Ophthalmology at University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, in Munich Germany, and SMILE Eyes Clinic in Linz, Austria, led by Niklas Mohr, MD.

In a cross-sectional study that was carried out at 1 site, investigators analyzed the data from 162 eyes (81 patients, 58 women) and assessed how baseline patient characteristics, treatment parameters, and refractive and visual outcomes affected the patients’ quality of life based on the results recorded on the self-reported (subjective) Quality of Vision (QOV) questionnaire.

The investigators also sought to identify any possible predictive parameters.

The analysis showed that the mean patient age was 33.3 years (range 21-51) and the mean preoperative spherical equivalent was −8.42 D (range, −3.25 - −14.38 D).

The researchers reported that the mean QOV scores were 35.5, 32.2, and 23.3 for frequency, severity, and bothersomeness, respectively.

Halos and glare were the most frequently reported symptoms by 90.1% and 66.7% of patients, respectively. Halos were described to be an occasional problem by 66.7% of patients, and of them, 5 patients (6.2%) reported having halos very often. The halos were considered to be very bothersome by only 1 patient (1.2%). Patients older than 36 years reported visual symptoms more frequently (P < 0.05) and recorded higher irritation scores (P = 0.01).

“Halos are the most commonly perceived long-term visual disturbance after myopic ICL implantation with a central hole,” investigators concluded. “Visual symptoms can persist more than 6 months postoperatively, causing only minor disturbances in most cases. Older patients seem more prone to experiencing these symptoms.”

Reference

Mohr N, Dirisamer M, Siedlecki J, et al. Determinants of subjective quality of vision after phakic intraocular lens implantation. J Refract Surg 2022;38:280–287; published online May 1, 2022; https://doi.org/10.3928/1081597X-20220405-01