Minus-power intraocular lenses to correct refractive errors in myopic pseudophakia

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of a secondary, piggyback, minus-power intraocular lens (IOL) to correct the refractive error in patients with myopic pseudophakia. Methods: In this prospective noncomparative cohort study, 51 myopic pseudophakic patients received implantation of a minus-power IOL as a secondary procedure to correct residual pseudophakic myopia. Results: The mean residual myopia of -3.05 diopters (D) was reduced to -0.38 D. All eyes were within +/-1.00 D of the desired refraction. Uncorrected visual acuity was 20/40 or better in 72% of eyes, and best corrected visual acuity was 20/40 or better in 96%. Uncorrected visual acuity improved by 2 or more lines in 85% of eyes and by 5 or more lines in 65%. Conclusion: Clinical outcomes can now be improved in patients with myopic pseudophakia whose previous options (i.e., lens exchange or refractive surgery) were more traumatic or less predictable. (C) 1999 ASCRS and ESCRS.