Functional and Cosmetic Outcomes of Combined Penetrating Keratoplasty and Iris Reconstruction Lens Implantation in Eyes with a History of Trauma

Purpose: To determine the functional and cosmetic outcomes of combined iris reconstruction lens (Ophtec) implantation and penetrating keratoplasty (PK) in eyes with acquired partial or complete aniridia.

Setting: Jules Stein Eye Institute and the Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Methods: In a prospective nonrandomized single-center interventional case series, efficacy measures included improvement in cosmesis and reduction in glare, star bursts, and photophobia. Safety measures included changes in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), reports of adverse events, and surgical complications.

Results: The 9 eyes in the study had a history of penetrating or blunt trauma and were aphakic or in need of cataract surgery. Corneal pathologies necessitating transplantation included scarring, decompensation, or failure of a previous graft. Postoperatively, all patients were pleased with the cosmetic improvement of the study eye and all reported a reduction in visual disturbances. By the final follow-up examination, the BCVA improved in 4 patients but worsened in 5. Three adverse events were reported. There were no intraoperative surgical complications. The most serious postoperative complications were a pressure spike leading to loss of light perception, corneal graft rejection, and graft failure. The most common postoperative problem was surgically induced irregular corneal astigmatism.

Conclusions: Ophtec iris reconstruction lens implantation and simultaneous PK reduced visual disturbances and improved the aesthetic appearance of the eyes. The long-term safety of the procedure, judged by BCVA and postoperative complications, was mixed, with both good and bad outcomes.