Outcomes of Phakic Posterior Chamber Intraocular Lens Surgery Done at Eagle Eye Laser Centre

Abstract

Introduction Phakic PCIOLs are a novel therapeutic method of correcting refractive errors. Their most important advantage is that they are reversible. Eagle Eye Laser centre is the first institution in East Africa to offer this new method of refractive error correction. The study population included patients who are over 21 years of age with stable moderate myopia, high myopia and stabilised keratoconus. Purpose The main aim of the study was to analyse the visual outcomes and surgical complications of patients at three and six months after phakic PCIOL implantation at Eagle Eye Laser Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. The study period was from May to June 2023. The experience and outcomes of phakic PCIOL surgery have never been published in East Africa. Methods This was an analytical, cross-sectional, consecutive study in a single centre involving 80 eyes of patients who underwent phakic PCIOL implantation at Eagle Eye Laser Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. All eyes were operated by the same surgeon. Data was collected using a predetermined questionnaire from patient records. The data was analysed and categorised into factors that affect outcomes of phakic PCIOL surgery. Results The efficacy and safety indices after 3 months were 1.82 and 1.9 respectively, 2.17 and 2.07 respectively at month 6. In 85.71% of eyes achieved Snellen visual acuity of 6/12 or better. The eyes with postoperative Manifest refraction Spherical Equivalent (predictability) within -0.13D to +0.13D was 80% while the refractive astigmatism of ≤0.25D was 77.6%. The eyes that gained three or more Snellen lines was 42.86%. The refractive prediction error was zero. Complication rate was 4% consisting angle closure and vaulting. Conclusions We conclude that phakic PCIOL implantation significantly improved visual acuity, demonstrated high efficacy and safety indices at three and six months, and had a low complication rate. It is recommended that phakic PCIOL implantation be considered a viable option for patients seeking vision correction with minimal complications