PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcomes of intraocular lens (IOL) exchange in eyes with opacified hydrogel IOLs. METHODS: We analyzed retrospectively the charts of 12 patients (15 eyes) who had been submitted to opacified intraocular lens exchange. RESULTS: The opacified hydrogel intraocular lens caused decreased visual acuity in 13 eyes (86,7%). The opacified intraocular lens exchange improved visual acuity in 11 eyes (73,3%). Three eyes (20%) had the following complications during surgery: silicone oil loss, complete zonular dehiscence with loss of capsular bag and partial zonular dehiscence. During the intraocular lens exchange it was necessary to perform relaxing incisions in the anterior capsulorrhexis edge in three eyes (20%) and, in two eyes (13,3%) it was necessary to cut the haptics removing only the optical zone of the intraocular lens. CONCLUSION: Intraocular lens exchange was an effective treatment in patients with opacified hydrogel intraocular lens (p > 0,05).
Device removal; Lens implantation, intraocular; Lenses intraocular; Reoperation; Hydrogel; Phacoemulsification; Visual acuity
