AIM: To observe the efficacy of moderate and high myopia patients with vault greater than 1 000μm after implantation of phakic posterior chamber implantable contact lens(ICL).

METHODS: A total of 42 patients(73 eyes)who received ICL implantation in the hospital and had postoperative vault greater than 1 000 μm between January 2014 and January 2017 were selected and retrospectively studied. Changes in visual acuity, intraocular pressure, corneal endothelial cell density, anterior chamber-related parameters(chamber angle, central anterior chamber depth, anterior chamber volume)and vault were compared among patients before surgery, at 1, 3, 6mo and 1a after surgery and at the last follow-up.

RESULTS: The uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA)at 1, 3, 6mo and 1a after surgery and at the last follow-up was better than that before surgery(all P<0.05), and the chamber angle, central anterior chamber depth and anterior chamber volume were smaller or lower than those before surgery(all P<0.05), but there were no statistical differences in UCVA, chamber angle, central anterior chamber depth and anterior chamber volume at each time point after surgery(all P>0.05). The intraocular pressure at 1mo after surgery was lower than that before surgery(P<0.05), but the intraocular pressure at 3, 6mo and 1a after surgery and at the last follow-up was not statistically different from that before surgery(all P>0.05). There was no statistical significance in the corneal endothelial cell density at 1, 3, 6mo and 1a after surgery and at the last follow-up compared with that before surgery(all P>0.05). The vault at 1, 3, 6mo and 1a after surgery and at the last follow-up showed a decreasing trend, and the difference was statistically significant at each time point after surgery(all P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: The short-term and long-term efficacy are better in moderate and high myopia patients with vault greater than 1 000 μm after ICL implantation, and there are no significant effects on the intraocular pressure and corneal endothelial cell. The postoperative anterior chamber structure is relatively stable and the vault tends to decrease over time. In most cases, close observation is sufficient and intraocular lens replacement is generally not required.