Long-term In Vivo Stability of Posterior Chamber Phakic Intraocular Lens: Properties and Light Transmission Characteristics of Explants.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the in vivo durability of the surface and optical properties of the implantable Collamer lens (ICL).

DESIGN

Retrospective case series.

METHODS

We included patients who developed cataracts after having undergone ICL implantation from March 2003 to May 2014 and underwent ICL explantation followed by cataract surgery from March 2017 to December 2019 at the Nagoya Eye Clinic. ICL explants were submitted to Chukyo Medical Co, Ltd (Nagoya City, Japan) for laboratory analysis using ultraviolet-visible light spectroscopy, light microscopy (LM), and scanning electron microscopy. Patients' demographic and clinical data were collected and reviewed.

RESULTS

Thirteen eyes from 10 patients were studied. The average age at ICL explantation was 50.5 ± 8.5 years (range, 34.5-66.3 years). The average length of ICL stay in the eye (from implantation to explantation) was 10.5 ± 2.7 years (range, 4.4-13.7 years). No opacification or coloring of the ICL explants was observed by LM. The ICL explants showed almost the same light transmittance as that of unused ICLs. Scanning electron microscopy revealed no irregularities at the surface of the center and periphery of the optic and haptic footplate. The positioning holes did not show any deposition.

CONCLUSION

The ICLs remained in-eye for >10 years without any deterioration in the surface and optical properties of the ICL, despite their contact with the ciliary body and iris tissues and the continuous interaction with the aqueous humor components. The present study shows long-term in vivo stability of the ICL.