Posterior chamber phakic IOLs vs. LASIK: benefits and complications

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The long-term clinical results and postoperative complications of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and two types of posterior phakic intraocular lens (ICL: implantable Collamer lens, STAAR) were compared. Over various follow-up periods (LASIK, 12 years; ICL V4, 8 years; and Hole ICL, 5 years), previous studies have reported safety indexes of 1.09 ± 0.21, 1.13 ± 0.23, and 1.15 ± 0.25, respectively. The efficacy indexes were 0.67 ± 0.37, 0.83 ± 0.36, and 1.00 ± 0.29, respectively. The changes in the spherical equivalent from the first or third postoperative month to last-observation period were −0.74 ± 0.99, −0.32 ± 0.73 and −0.17 ± 0.41 D, respectively. This review also discusses postoperative complications, and explains refractive surgery issues in consideration of patient’s future quality of vision.

Areas covered: This review focused on articles summarizing the latest long-term clinical outcomes. Some figures and tables were newly created using previous long-term clinical reports by the author.

Expert commentary: Refractive surgeries specifically on healthy eyes can improve the patient’s quality of life. Therefore, it is not desirable to experience a decrease in the postoperative optical quality or to have unnecessary long-term complications. Posterior phakic IOL is the most preferable surgical procedure for patients with high myopia.

KEYWORDS:

• LASIK
• phakic IOL
• ICL
• long-term
• complications
• visual performance
• higher order aberrations
• contrast sensitivity

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

A reviewer on this manuscript has disclosed that they are a consultant to STAAR Surgical, Alcon (Novartis) and Bausch Health. No other peer reviewers on this manuscript have relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded