Refractive surprise after cataract surgery in a patient with a phakic lens implant

Abstract

Phakic intraocular lens implantation may be a logical option for extremely myopic patients who wish to get rid of their eyeglasses and contact lenses. This alternative was developed to correct extremely high degrees of myopia and remain inside the eye for many years. However, with the passing of time and due to physiological processes, the crystalline lens tends to become opaque. A new challenge is posed by the need to remove it and select a lens with an optical power appropriate to the capsular sac, thus achieving emmetropia. Inaccurate calculation of the dioptric power of the lens to be implanted in the surgical intervention is a problem leading to refractive surprise. Hence the interest in presenting a case illustrating the most common cause of refractive surprise after cataract surgery in a myopic patient with a phakic lens implant. The importance of axial length is highlighted, particularly whether it is modified after phakic lens implantation for accurate calculation of the lens to be implanted and the ideal method to obtain it: optical interferometry, without disregarding the medical record data preceding the phakic lens implantation. Key words: Refractive surprise; cataract surgery; phakic lens.