Long-term follow-up of endothelial cell change after Artisan phakic intraocular lens implantation.
OBJECTIVE
To report endothelial cell densities (ECDs) and their correlation to anterior chamber depth (ACD) after implantation of the Artisan intraocular phakic lens.


METHODS
Prospective observational case series.


METHODS
Three hundred eighteen eyes of 173 myopic patients treated with the Artisan iris-fixated phakic intraocular lens (IOL).


METHODS
Eyes with an ACD ranging between 2.89 and 4.5 mm were implanted with the Artisan phakic IOL. Endothelial cell density measurements were performed preoperatively and at each follow-up examination using a noncontact specular microscope.


METHODS
Endothelial cell density (cells per square millimeter).


RESULTS
Follow-up ranged between 1 (82 eyes) and 7 years (13 eyes) (mean, 35.3+/-20.7 [standard deviation] months per eye). After 3 years, there was a significant loss in ECD (P< or =0.03). At 5 years, mean observed endothelial cell loss was 8.3% (5.3% corrected for a natural endothelial cell loss of 0.6% a year). Endothelial cell density loss remained progressive throughout our follow-up period. After 3 years, a significant negative correlation between ACD and endothelial cell loss was revealed (P< or =0.03). Patient age, gender, refractive error, incision size, and side of the eye were not correlated to ECD loss. All corneas remained clear throughout the study.


CONCLUSIONS
After 3 years, a significant ECD loss was revealed. This ECD loss was significantly negatively correlated to the ACD. We therefore suggest that eyes just meeting the minimum ECD requirement have greater ACDs to compensate for possible greater endothelial cell loss and that patients with shallow anterior chambers have higher ECDs. Artisan phakic lens implantation in young eyes narrowly meeting the minimum criteria of endothelial cell density (2,000 cells/mm(2)) and ACD (2.6 mm) should perhaps be reevaluated, due to longer exposure to higher rates of endothelial cell loss.
Department of Ophthalmology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Ruchi
R
Saxena
Sharmila S
SS
Boekhoorn
Paul G H
PG
Mulder
Bastiaantje
B
Noordzij
Gabriel
G
van Rij
Gre P M
GP
Luyten
D000328:Adult; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000473:pathology; D002452:Cell Count; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011184:Postoperative Period