Multifocal Intraocular Lens Implantation After Previous Corneal Refractive Laser Surgery for Myopia
Vrijman V, van der Linden JW, van der Meulen IJ, Mourits MP, Lapid-Gortzak R J Cataract Refract Surg. 2017;43:909-914
High Expectations of Visual Function
Corneal refractive surgery has been performed on millions of patients to decrease their spectacle dependence. Most of these patients have high expectations of visual function—but as these patients age, they develop cataracts like the rest of the population, and yet their expectations for visual function remain.
Presbyopia-correcting intraocular lenses (PC-IOLs) offer patients an opportunity to decrease spectacle dependence. Although these IOLs can work well, there is no perfect technology. Each type of PC-IOL has its strong points and drawbacks. There are also patient selection and surgical considerations. Adding prior refractive surgery to the mix complicates the picture even more.
Study Summary
Vrijman and colleagues reported their outcomes in post-myopic refractive surgery patients undergoing implantation of an apodized multifocal IOL. The majority of patients were undergoing refractive lens exchange, with 38% having visually significant cataracts.
Overall, good refractive outcomes were shown in these patients, with 57% within ± 0.5 diopter (D) of emmetropia and 86% within ± 1 D of emmetropia.
In addition, the investigators noted that predictability of their results was less in patients who had >6 D of myopia correction.
