Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate postoperative outcomes and intraoperative and postoperative complications of clear lens extraction (CLE) with posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) implantation for high refractive errors. Participants: Sixty five (65) patients (129 eyes) who had undergone CLE with posterior chamber IOL implantation from 6/1999–6/2001. We chosen this method for all patients after exclusion of other methods of refractive surgery. The mean follow-up in all patients was 23,2 months (range 24 to 36 months). Eyes were divided into group A (myopia) with 13 patients (5 men, 8 women), average age 44.76 years (range 25 to 66 years) and group B (hyperopia) with 52 patients (24 men, 28 women), average age 49.47 years (range 27 to 64 years). Results: Group A. The mean preoperative spherical equivalent refraction was -11.05 ± 3.56 Dsf (range -15.5 Dsf do -3.5 Dsf), the mean postoperative spherical equivalent refraction was -1.17 ± 1.04 Dsf (range -2.75 Dsf do 0 Dsf). The mean preoperative uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) (decimal equivalent) was 0.02 ± 0.009, the mean postoperative UCVA was 0.34 ± 0.26. The mean preoperative best-corrected visual acuity BCVA was 0.57 ± 0.32, the mean postoperative BCVA 0.65 ± 0.24. Group B. The mean preoperative spherical equivalent refrection was +5.36 ± 2.21 Dsf (range +2.00 Dsf to +13.0 Dsf). The mean postoperative spherical equivalent refraction was +0,0 7 ± 0.89 Dsf (range -1,5 Dsf do + 4.5 Dsf). The mean preoperative uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) was 0.13 ± 0.12, the mean postoperative UCVA was 0.53 ± 0.23. The mean preoperative best-corrected visual acuity BCVA was 0.76 ± 0.28, the mean postoperative BCVA 0.69 ± 0.27. No significant complications were observed. Conclusions: Refractive lensectomy with posterior chamber IOL implantation is safe, predictable, and effective. RL can achieve excellent visual acuity and refractive outcome with few complications.

        Key words: refractive lensectomy, visual acuity, complications