A Prospective Study on the Implantation of Anterior Chamber Intraocular Lenses during Keratoplasty for Pseudophakic and Aphakic Bullous Keratopathy

Abstract

Between April 1986 and April 1989, the authors conducted a prospective study of the use of open-loop anterior chamber intraocular lenses (AC IOLs) in patients undergoing penetrating keratoplasty for pseudophakic bullous keratopathy or monocular aphakic bullous keratopathy. All patients underwent the same operation—a penetrating keratoplasty combined with insertion of an open-loop AC IOL. Pseudophakic patients had an IOL exchange at the time of surgery. Thirty-six patients have been followed an average of 15 months. Thirtytwo (89%) of the grafts are clear. Preoperatively, 100% of eyes had visual acuity less than 20/200. Postoperatively, 11 eyes (31%) have visual acuity better than 20/40 and 23 eyes (64%) have visual acuity better than 20/100. The most common causes for visual acuity less than 20/200 were cystoid macular edema, glaucoma, and immunologic graft failure. Using open-loop AC IOLs in patients with pseudophakic or aphakic bullous keratopathy can give good postoperative results and functional vision.