Toric phakic intraocular lens for the correction of hyperopia and astigmatism

PURPOSE: To evaluate the Artisan toric phakic intraocular lens (pIOL) for the correction of hyperopia and astigmatism. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, and Department of Ophthalmology, Sint Truiden, Belgium. METHODS: In this prospective study of 47 eyes of 28 patients with hyperopia and astigmatism, Artisan toric pIOLs were implanted between April 1999 and June 2004. Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best corrected visual acuity, refraction, astigmatism, safety, and predictability were analyzed. Change in astigmatism was analyzed with vector analysis. Refractive cylinders are expressed in minus form. RESULTS: Mean preoperative spherical equivalent was +4.33 diopters (D) +/- 2.26 (SD). Mean follow-up was 11.1 months (range 6 to 36 months). A gain of 1 or more lines in best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) was seen in 36.2%. Safety index and efficacy index after 6 months were 1.06 and 0.87, respectively. The mean postoperative astigmatism at 6 months was 0.19 D at an axis of 144 degrees. At 6 months, about three quarters (76.6%) of the eyes had a UCVA of 20/40 or better. One eye lost 2 lines of BSCVA. In 1 eye, the lens position had to be changed because of a large axis misalignment. No serious complications developed in any of the treated eyes during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Artisan toric pIOLs can correct moderate to high hyperopia combined with astigmatism with good refractive results. In this study, there were no serious complications. However, the predictability of the refractive results appeared to be lower than those in the correction of myopia and astigmatism with toric Artisan lenses.