Quality of life in high myopia before and after implantable Collamer lens implantation

Abstract

Purpose: To examine changes in vision-related quality of life after implantable Collamer lens (ICL) implantation for the correction of myopia.

Design: Prospective, interventional, consecutive case series.

Participants: We included 34 consecutive patients (68% female; mean age, 37 years [range, 23-49]) with preoperative myopia (mean ± standard deviation [SD] refraction spherical equivalent, -11.0 ± 3.12).

Intervention: Bilateral ICL implantation.

Main outcome measures: Quality of life Impact of Refractive Correction (QIRC) score.

Results: The median postoperative interval before questionnaire administration was 4 months (range, 3-7). The QIRC scores were significantly higher postoperatively (preoperative QIRC score [mean ± SD], 40.45 ± 4.83; postoperative QIRC score 53.79 ± 5.60; P < 0.001), with significant improvements (P<0.01) for 14 of 19 items. Nineteen (58%) patients reported a worsening in night vision symptoms (mostly nonspecific glare and halo or arc effects) after surgery, but overall levels of satisfaction were high; 88% were either satisfied or very satisfied with the results of surgery. No patients reported overall dissatisfaction. In free text responses, 11 patients (32%) described ICL implantation as life changing or wished that they had opted for the surgery sooner.

Conclusions: Implantation of an ICL for myopia is associated with significant improvements in quality of life. Any dissatisfaction with the procedure largely relates to night vision symptoms, which are common in the early postoperative period.