Characterization of vault with two models of posterior chamber phakic intraocular lenses.

Purpose: To evaluate and compare dynamic vault range (DVR) and asymmetry of the vault during a 3-month follow-up after the implantation of 2 posterior chamber phakic intraocular lenses (pIOLs).

Setting: Aver Clinic, Madrid, Spain.

Design: Prospective comparative study.

Methods: 119 eyes (65 patients) that underwent refractive surgical correction with implantation of 1 of 2 distinct pIOLs were enrolled: Eyecryl Phakic from Biotech Vision Care (Eyecryl group, 72 eyes) and Evo Visian Implantable Contact Lens from Staar Surgical (ICL group, 47 eyes). Besides evaluation of visual acuity, refraction, and ocular integrity, the pIOL vault centrally and at 2 mm nasally and temporally as well as the DVR from photopic (50 lux) to mesopic (10 lux) illumination conditions were measured.

Results: No significant differences were found between the pIOL groups in visual and refractive outcomes ( P ≥ .454). No significant differences between the groups were found in central (523.72 ± 168.4 vs 494.16 ± 156.7 μm, P = .248) and temporal (499.43 ± 155.8 vs 431.28 ± 150.5 μm, P = .067) vaults. However, nasal vault was significantly lower in the ICL group (465.6 ± 149.1 vs 375.4 ± 144.0 μm, P = .045). A trend of a larger DVR was observed in the ICL group, although differences between groups did not reach statistical significance (54.00 ± 36.39 vs 86.5 ± 57.9 μm, P = .070). The pIOL diameter only correlated significantly with vault measurements in the ICL group ( r ≥ 0.650, P < .001).

Conclusions: The Eyecryl pIOL showed more symmetric vaults and a trend of fewer light-induced changes in the central vault compared with the ICL pIOL. The clinical relevance of this finding should be investigated further.