Purpose: To evaluate the postoperative outcomes in uveitic eyes after phacoemulsification and posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.
Setting: Multicenter (19) international study.
Methods: This prospective randomized comparative interventional case series comprised 140 eyes of 140 patients who had phacoemulsification and implantation of IOLs of various materials: hydrophobic acrylic (n = 48), silicone (n = 44), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) (n = 26), or heparin-surface-modified PMMA (HSM PMMA) (n = 22). Preoperative and postoperative grading and control of intraocular inflammation were performed. Clinically significant observations, visual outcomes, and the incidence of postoperative complications were recorded.
Results: At the final follow-up, 64 eyes (46.3%) had a best corrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better, an improvement that was highly significant (P <.0001). One day after surgery, the acrylic group had the lowest inflammation values and the silicone group the highest (P =.02). The acrylic group continued to have the lowest inflammation grade values until the 3-month follow-up. The acrylic and HSM PMMA groups had the lowest incidence of relapses. Posterior capsule opacification developed in 48 eyes (34.2%), with the highest incidence in the silicone group.
Conclusions: Phacoemulsification with IOL implantation in selected uveitic eyes was safe and effective. Acrylic IOLs provided a better visual outcome and lower complication rate than IOLs of other materials.