Corneal oedema and endothelial cell loss after iris-clip lens implantation

Abstract

Lens implantation as a form of replacement surgery has some clear advantages over other forms of aphakic correction. The most feared complication of this type of operation is bullous keratopathy. A short-term study was carried out in two comparable groups of patients to assess corneal oedema and endothelial cell loss after simple cataract extraction and after iris-clip lens implantation following intracapsular extraction as a primary procedure. All patients were randomly chosen to have one or other procedure. The results indicate that lens implantation causes greater postoperative corneal oedema and greater endothelial cell loss. It is therefore important for implant surgeons to bear in mind the possible harm they may be inflicting and the need both for stringent criteria of selection and for the adoption of techniques which will minimize endothelial trauma.