Visual outcomes and patient satisfaction after implantable collamer lens and Toric implantable collamer lens correction for moderate to high myopia and myopic astigmatism

OBJECTIVE: To compare preoperative and postoperative visual outcomes, determine patient's satisfaction, and evaluate visual symptoms after implantable collamer lens (ICL) implantation.

METHODS: One hundred and twelve patients with myopia between -2.75 and -19.50 diopter had ICL or Toric ICL (TICL) implantation. The implantations were carried out at the Cornea and Refractive Unit, Magrabi Eye Hospital, Sana'a, Republic of Yemen between September 2007 and October 2010. Preoperative and postoperative uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best spectacle corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), and refraction was evaluated. Patient's satisfaction and visual symptoms were evaluated using a questionnaire.

RESULTS: The mean age was 26.74 +/- 5.6 years. The mean preoperative UCVA improved from 0.01 +/- 0.04 to 0.75 +/- 0.22. The mean postoperative UCVA (0.75 +/- 0.23) versus preoperative BSCVA (0.61 +/- 0.23) had a significant statistical change (p<0.001), and Pearson correlation of 0.818. Preoperative BSCVA versus postoperative BSCVA gained 5 lines in 2.5%, 4 lines in 4.4%, 3 lines in 14.2%, 2 lines in 32.8%, and one line improvement in 24%, whereas it was maintained in 20.1%, and lost one or more lines in 2%. The mean score for the overall satisfaction was 2.67 +/- 0.45. A total of 15.2% reported complaint of halos, 13.4% reported perception of stars around lights, and 23.2% had glare.

CONCLUSION: Implantation of ICL and TICL is safe and effective and provides predictable refractive results with good satisfaction in the treatment of moderate to high myopia, suggesting its viability as a surgical option for the treatment of myopia.