Indications for and results of a large series of intraocular lens exchanges

We conducted a retrospective review of 79 patients who had intraocular lens (IOL) explantation and exchange over a 12-year period. Seventy-nine eyes of 40 males and 39 females from 17 to 94 years of age were followed from three months to more than 12 years. Sixty-one percent (61%) were posterior chamber lenses and 39% were anterior chamber lenses replaced by 76% posterior chamber and 24% anterior chamber lenses. The indications for lens exchange were eccentric or displaced IOL (41.7%), endothelial decompensation (27.7%), incorrect IOL power (12.6%), and uveitis-glaucoma-hyphema syndrome (10.0%). Analysis of the clinical results revealed that 72% of the cases had postoperative visual acuity better than or equal to 20/30, and 8% had a loss of one or more lines of visual acuity. Among the complications occurring after IOL exchange were retinal detachment, glaucoma, corneal decompensation, and anisometropia.