Visual Outcomes in Traumatic Aphakia Corrected with Contact Lens versus Intraocular Lens Implantation - A Retrospective Chart Review.

PURPOSE: To compare visual outcomes in trauma-induced aphakia after surgical intraocular lens (IOL) implantation versus contact lens correction (CL).

METHODS

This study was a 7-year retrospective chart review. Patient characteristics, injury types, and lens types were documented for 42 eyes with trauma-induced aphakia, with 29% undergoing IOL implantation (n=12, mean age: 52.1 years) and 71% with CL (n=30, mean age: 41.3 years). Aphakic visual acuity (converted to logMAR scale), post-treatment visual acuity, and follow-up duration were assessed. The Wilcoxon ranked sum test was employed for outcome comparisons.

RESULTS

Both groups demonstrated significant visual acuity improvement. Post-treatment, 33% and 37% of patients in the IOL and CL groups, respectively, reported visual acuity better than 20/40. No statistically significant difference was found between the cohorts (p = 0.5861).

CONCLUSION

In trauma-induced aphakia, contact lens correction is comparable to intraocular lens implantation in improving visual acuity.