Purpose: The black iris-lens diaphragm (ILD) can be used in the treatment of traumatic aniridia and aphakia. The aim of our study was to show postoperative functional and anatomic results and complications in a small case series.
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the files of 16 patients managed with a black ILD or a sole iris diaphragm in the period 1994-2007. Four of them were female and 12 were male. The mean age of the group was 50±17 years. At the time of the implantation, all of the eyes had already undergone primary surgical repair.
Results: The preoperative best-corrected visual acuity in half of the patients was =0.1 and remained stable after the first postoperative year. During the follow-up years, one eye developed a subluxation of the implant and one eye an anterior chamber hemorrhage. At the same time, out of 8 eyes carrying a silicone tamponade in the vitreous cavity, silicone oil entered the anterior chamber in 3 cases. In one case, enucleation was undertaken due to phthisis.
Conclusions: In the case of severely traumatized eyes with aniridia and aphakia, the implantation of a black ILD can have a positive effect on functional and anatomic stabilization.