Change in Refractive Outcomes Following Custom, Flexible Iris Prostheses Placed Secondarily within the Capsular Bag

In patients with iris deficiencies, surgical placement of a custom, artificial iris improves cosmesis and photic symptoms. When patients have existing intraocular lenses (IOLs) within the capsular bag, iris devices also placed within the capsular bag might change the IOL's effectivity; previous reports suggest a hyperopic shift, but data is limited. This retrospective chart review studied 13 eyes receiving a custom, flexible iris prosthesis fixated into an existing intact capsular bag, separate from prior phacoemulsification. Biometry, IOL data, and pre- and post-operative refraction were collected. For iris prosthesis placement without concomitant procedures, the average change in spherical equivalent was +0.49D; For an aphakic eye receiving a secondary IOL, post-operative refraction was +0.79D more hyperopic than expected. For eyes undergoing concomitant IOL exchange, average post-operative refraction was 1.22D less myopic than predicted. This study confirms a hyperopic refractive shift when both IOLs and iris prostheses are placed into the capsular bag.