Background/aims: To evaluate the visual outcomes and indication for surgery in a series of patients who underwent explantation of a phakic intraocular lens (PIOL). Methods: A retrospective case series of patients who underwent PIOL explantation in our institution was performed. The indication for explantation and visual and refractive outcomes were examined. The method of explantation is described. Results: Twenty-two eyes of 16 patients underwent PIOL explantation with a mean time to explantation of 7 ± 3 years (range 3–11.4). The mean age at explantation was 50.3 ± 9.3 years. Sixteen Artisan PIOLs and six Artiflex PIOLs were explanted. The indications for explanation were cataract development (17/22), endothelial cell loss (4/22) and synechiae formation (1/22). All patients with cataract underwent a combined procedure with explantation and phacoemulsification and the placement of a posterior chamber IOL. Mean corrected vision after explantation was 0.22 ± 0.10 logMAR (range 0.1–0.3 logMAR). One patient with endothelial cell loss required a Descemet’s Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSEK). Conclusion: Removal of PIOLs was necessitated most frequently by cataract followed by endothelial cell loss. Both explantation alone and explantation with concurrent phacoemulsification are safe procedures with good visual outcomes and will become more frequent in the future as more patients with PIOLs reach cataractous age.