Background: Currently used corneal refractive procedures do not offer a perfect solution for high hyperopia. This article proposes clear lens extraction and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation for the correction of high hyperopia.
Methods: Extracapsular clear lens extraction and posterior chamber IOL implantation was performed in 10 normally sighted eyes of five patients with a hyperopic spherical equivalent refraction between +7.88 and +9.75 D. The follow-up period was 18 months.
Results: Mean uncorrected visual acuity improved from count fingers to 20/25. All eyes saw 20/30 or better without correction. Postoperative correction ranged from -0.37 to +0.50 diopters (mean, 0.01). The mean endothelial cell loss percentage at 18 months was 11.2% +/- 1.87% (range, 8% to 13%).
Conclusions: The excellent results of contemporary cataract surgery, the reduced morbidity, patient satisfaction, as well as accuracy and rapid stability of the refraction suggest that clear lens extraction and IOL implantation are useful refractive procedures for the correction of high hyperopia.