To evaluate the efficacy, safety and stability of posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens implantation for the correction of high myopia.

Retrospective case review of 82 eyes (43 patients) undergoing implantable Collamer lens (ICL) placement by a single surgeon (Xiao-Wei Gao) to correct preoperative mean spherical equivalents between -9.00 diopter (D) and -23.00D. Main outcome measures included uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), refraction, best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), endothelial cell density (ECD), intraocular pressure (IOP), lens transparency, postoperative uveitis. Visante anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) was used to measure anterior chamber depth (ACD) and the position of ICL.

Mean follow-up was 6.54±3.26 months (range 3-12 months). Predictability of the manifest spherical equivalent (SE) refraction to within ±1.00D was achieved in 88% of eyes and ±0.50D in 72.5% of eyes. The mean postoperative manifest SE refraction was -1.85±0.72D, with 96.34% of eyes maintaining or gaining ≥1 line(s) of BSCVA. The mean 3-month postoperative ECD decreased but had no statistically difference compared with the preoperative ECD. Of the 7 eyes (8.54%) with a mild transient increase in intraocular pressure (up to 30mmHg), none required a second surgical procedure or prolonged topical medication. There was no loss of lens transparency. Pigmented precipitates were observed in 5 eyes (6.09%). The mean preoperative ACD measured with AS-OCT was 3.28±0.14mm, three months after surgery, the mean ACD was 2.45±0.22mm. Anterior chamber depth showed a statistically significant reduction. One eye (1.22%) had ICL spontaneous rotation, 81 eyes (98.78%) of the lens remained correctly centered.

The implantation of ICL is an effective surgical option for the management of high myopia. But its long time effect and safety still need more time to prove.