Recurrent intraocular inflammation after implantation of the Artiflex phakic intraocular lens for the correction of high myopia

We describe a 54-year old man who developed a severe cell deposition 1 week after implantation of a foldable Artiflex phakic intraocular lens (pIOL) (Ophtec B.V.) with a silicone optic and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) haptics in the left eye for the correction of high myopia. Nine months after implantation, many cell deposits remained visible on the posterior surface of the IOL, causing severe glare, especially during daylight conditions. We explanted the Artiflex pIOL and exchanged it for a PMMA Artisan pIOL. One month after the exchange, the uncorrected visual acuity was 20/20 and the patient's glare complaints had disappeared. Slitlamp examination showed no signs of inflammation in the anterior segment or cell deposits on the PMMA Artisan pIOL. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated multiple cell deposits on the explanted Artiflex pIOL.