The posterior chamber phakic refractive lens (PRL): a review

• Published in: Eye (London) Vol. 27; no. 1; pp. 14 - 21
• Main Authors: Pérez-Cambrodí, R J, Piñero, D P, Ferrer-Blasco, T, Cerviño, A, Brautaset, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01-01-2013; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Cataract - etiology; Equipment Design; Humans; Laboratory Medicine; Lens Implantation, Intraocular - adverse effects; Lens Implantation, Intraocular - methods; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Myopia - surgery; Ophthalmology; Patient Selection; Phakic Intraocular Lenses - adverse effects; Phakic Intraocular Lenses - classification; Pharmaceutical Sciences/Technology; Posterior Capsule of the Lens; Refraction, Ocular; Review; Surgery; Surgical Oncology; refractive surgery; visual performance; phakic refractive lens (PRL); posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens; review; optical quality
• ISSN: 0950-222X; 1476-5454; 1476-5454
• DOI: 10.1038/eye.2012.235

Implantation of phakic intraocular lenses (pIOLs) is a reversible refractive procedure, preserving the patient’s accommodative function with minimal induction of higher order aberrations compared with corneal photoablative procedures. Despite this, as an intraocular procedure, it has potential risks such as cataracts, chronic uveitis, pupil ovalization, corneal endothelial cell loss, pigmentary dispersion syndrome, pupillary block glaucoma, astigmatism, or endophthalmitis. Currently, only two models of posterior chamber pIOLs are commercially available, the implantable collammer lens (STAAR Surgical Co.) and the phakic refractive lens (PRL; Zeiss Meditec). The number of published reports on the latter is very low, and some concerns still remain about its long-term safety. The present article reviews the published literature on the outcomes after PRL implantation in order to provide a general overview and evaluate its real potential as a surgical refractive option.