The Effect of Secondary Intraocular Lens Implantation Time on Visual Prognosis in Aphakia Cases after Open Globe Injury.

PURPOSE: We investigated the effect of the time of secondary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation on final visual acuity and other causes affecting visual prognosis in cases left aphakic after open globe injury.

METHODS

The study included 62 eyes of 62 patients left aphakic after the repair of open globe injury between 2012 and 2019. Demographic characteristics, trauma zone, ocular trauma score, type of injury, time of secondary IOL implantation, final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and complications were recorded for each patient.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up time of 62 patients was 25.05 ± 12.59 months. The preoperative BCVA was found to be 2.40 ± 0.86 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR), while the postoperative final BCVA was found to be 0.53 ± 0.70 logMAR (p < 0.01). The mean interval timing of secondary sulcus foldable IOL implantation was determined to be 3.79 ± 4.04 months. No correlation was observed between secondary IOL implantation time and final BCVA (r = 0.140, p = 0.319). Furthermore, when only pediatric patients were taken, an excellent positive correlation was found between the secondary IOL implantation time and final BCVA logMAR (r = 0.895, p < 0.01). Multiple linear regression on final BCVA with age, revealed a significant model explaining 48.0% of the variability with younger age and better final BCVA with as significant coefficients (p = 0.007).

CONCLUSIONS

Although time interval between primary repair and secondary IOL implantation to correct aphakia does not effect final BCVA in adult patients, earlier surgery should be considered for amblyopia management in pediatric patients.