Contrast Sensitivity After Posterior Chamber Phakic Intraocular Lens Implantation for High Myopia

PURPOSE: To evaluate contrast sensitivity after posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens (PIOL) implantation for the correction of high myopia. METHODS: Twenty eyes of ten patients had a posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens (Staar ICL) implanted to correct high myopia. Mean preoperative myopia was -14.10+/-2.70 D. Follow-up was 24 months for all patients. Contrast sensitivity was tested with best spectacle-corrected visual acuity preoperatively and 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Contrast sensitivity increased after surgery in all spatial frequencies. Normal values were achieved for low and intermediate spatial frequencies (3 and 6 c/deg). However, in spite of the improvement, values were still below normal for high spatial frequencies (12 and 18 c/deg). When the first postoperative examination was not considered, there were no statistically significant differences in contrast sensitivity values at different postoperative periods. CONCLUSION: Contrast sensitivity increased after posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens implantation (Staar ICL) in all spatial frequencies when compared to preoperative contrast sensitivity (best spectacle-corrected).