Intermittent myopic shift of 4.0 diopters after implantation of an Artisan iris-supported phakic intraocular lens

A 45-year-old man with bilateral high myopia and myopic astigmatism had uneventful implantation of a -10.5 diopters (D) Artisan iris-fixated anterior chamber phakic intraocular lens (PIOL) (Ophtec) in both eyes. In the first days after surgery, uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) was 20/16 in the right eye and 20/16 in the left; the position of the PIOL was stable. Ten days after surgery, the left eye developed a myopic shift of 4.0 D. Further examination showed that the myopia disappeared when the pupil was medically dilated. After the pupil returned to a natural position, the myopic shift reappeared. Because there were no changes in the subsequent 4 months, we decided to exclavate the IOL, rotate it by 10 degrees, and reenclavate it with less tissue. The myopic shift did not return over the following 20 months, and the UCVA was 20/20. In rare cases, iris-fixated anterior chamber IOLs may induce refractive changes related to effects on the surrounding anatomic structures. This may be corrected by phakic IOL rotation or reenclavation of the phakic IOL with less tissue.