Chronic subclinical inflammation after phakic intraocular lenses implantation: Comparison between Artisan and Artiflex models

PURPOSE: To compare chronic subclinical inflammation induced after implantation of Artisan vs. Artiflex phakic intraocular lenses (pIOLs). METHODS: This prospective, comparative, non-randomized study included consecutive patients with moderate to high myopia who underwent Artisan or Artiflex pIOL implantation with standard surgery and postoperative care. Anterior chamber flare was assessed quantitatively using laser flare photometry (LFP) at baseline, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 2 years after surgery. RESULTS: PIOLs were implanted in 72 eyes (40 patients); Artisan pIOLs in 16 eyes (Artisan group) and Artiflex pIOLs in 56 eyes (Artiflex group). The mean preoperative anterior chamber flare was 6.5 ± 2.3 (range, 4.2–9.5) photons per millisecond (ph/ms) and 4.2 ± 0.9 (range, 2.5–11.7) ph/ms in Artisan and Artiflex groups, respectively (P = 0.400). In spite of early postoperative rise, the flare value returned to preoperative levels 6 months after pIOL implantation and remained stable up to 2 years. The amount of flare was not statistically different between Artisan and Artiflex groups in any postoperative follow-up (all P > 0.05). The trend in flare changes was not different between the studied groups (ANCOVA, P = 0.815). CONCLUSION: The inflammatory response induced by implantation of either type of Artisan and Artiflex pIOLs is short-lived without statistically significant difference between the two models.