Comparison of the efficacy of the patented anterior chamber maintainer method and traditional method for implantable collamer lens implantation in myopic eyes: A clinical study

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of a novel ophthalmic viscosurgical device-free method using an anterior chamber maintainer for intraocular collamer lens implantation in eyes with myopia. Methods Forty patients underwent bilateral intraocular collamer lens implantation, with one eye receiving the traditional implantation method using an ophthalmic viscosurgical device and the other eye undergoing the anterior chamber maintainer method. Preoperative and postoperative parameters, including uncorrected distance visual acuity, best-corrected distance visual acuity, spherical equivalent, intraocular pressure, aberrations, subjective visual quality, corneal endothelial cell density, operation time, and complications, were compared between and within the two groups. Results In the traditional group, 10% of eyes had intraocular pressure >22 mmHg at 2 h postoperatively, compared with 0% in the anterior chamber maintainer group ( P < 0.001). The anterior chamber maintainer group showed better uncorrected and best-corrected distance visual acuity, spherical equivalent, total and low-order aberrations, and defocus at 1 day postoperatively (all P < 0.05), as well as shorter operation time (2.85 ± 0.30 vs. 4.37 ± 0.66 min, P < 0.001). No complications were observed except early intraocular pressure elevation in the traditional group. Conclusion The anterior chamber maintainer intraocular collamer lens implantation method provides faster visual recovery, a shorter operation time, and more stable intraocular pressure. It offers a convenient alternative to the traditional approach, avoiding ophthalmic viscosurgical device-related complications without introducing new ones.