Comparison of Iris Claw Phakic Lenses Implant Versus Corneal Laser Techniques in High Myopia. Five Years Follow-up

Abstract

Background To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Femto-LASIK, PRK, and Artiflex/Artisan phakic lens implantation in the surgical correction of myopia at three months, one, two, and five years of follow-up. Methods A retrospective study was proposed in patients who underwent Femto-LASIK technique (287 eyes of 171 patients), PRK (245 eyes of 191 patients), and phakic lens implantation (147 patient eyes) between 2010-2011 with a preoperative spheric equivalent greater than -6 diopters. The effectiveness and safety indexes were calculated during follow-up, comparing Femto-LASIK, PRK, and Artiflex/Artisan phakic lens implantation. In addition, a multivariate linear regression model was estimated. Results There were statistically significant differences in effectiveness and safety until five years when comparing Artiflex/Artisan versus PRK and Femto-LASIK (p<0.01). A linear regression model has established whose dependent variable was the UCVA at five years and independent variables were spherical equivalent preop, phakic lens implantation, and PRK. The model explained 30.32% of the patients' visual acuity variability at five years. Conclusions Artiflex/Artisan type phakic lens implantation is an effective, safe, and predictable technique at three months, 1, 2, and 5 years with stable refractive results throughout the follow-up periods compared with PRK surgery and Femto-Lasik. The model presented shows phakic lens surgery increases the UCVA result at five years and surgery with PRK decreases this final result.