Intraocular architecture of secondary implanted anterior chamber iris-claw lenses in aphakic eyes evaluated with anterior segment optical coherence tomography

Aim: To evaluate the intraocular stability and safety of secondary iris-claw intraocular lenses (IOLs) in aphakic patients. Methods: Eighteen eyes of 16 patients received iris-claw IOLs to correct for aphakia. Primary outcome measurements included visual acuity (6 m Snellen charts), central endothelium cell count (ECC) and intraocular position of the IOL assessed with anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT). Results: Sixteen patients (mean age 66 (range 16-84) years; axial length 24.44 mm) were re-examined 22 months postoperatively (range 12-38 months). Preoperative decimal best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.51, intraocular pressure (IOP) 15.3 mmHg and central ECC 1816 per mm(2). Postoperative BCVA was 0.68, IOP 13.1 mmHg and central ECC 1626 per mm(2) (difference over time 176 per mm(2) = 10.5%, p > 0.05). The anterior chamber depth was 4 mm for the eyes with axial length < 24 mm, and 4.34 mm for those >= 24 mm. Conclusion: Secondary anterior iris-claw IOLs appears to be a safe choice to correct aphakia with no significant intermediate postoperative central endothelium cell loss, especially in eyes with axial length >= 24 mm, as distances from the IOL to the central and peripheral cornea proved to be consistent.