[Heightened vigilance against the potential risks of phakic posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation].

Abstract

Currently, the clinical application of various refractive correction surgeries has provided more options for patients, and posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens (PC-PIOL) implantation has also become one of the therapeutic options with proven efficacy. However, the potential risks of this procedure still warrant high vigilance. Some self-media outlets claim that PC-PIOL implantation is a "regret-free" surgery causing no ocular damage, stating that the implanted lens can be removed at any time to restore the eye to its preoperative state. This claim equates the "reversibility" of the surgery with "the ability to regret (and remedy it)", which is essentially a misinterpretation of the procedure's core characteristics. Such misinterpretation may lead physicians and patients to lower their vigilance against surgical risks, paving the way for subsequent medical disputes. This article illustrates that postoperatively, intraocular structures and parameters-including intraocular pressure, corneal endothelial cells, and the anterior lens capsule-are affected to varying degrees. The risks of postoperative complications (e.g., cataracts, glaucoma, corneal endothelial decompensation, and intraocular infection) should not be overlooked. Additionally, it is important to prioritize surgical safety by: conducting thorough preoperative evaluations, maintaining close doctor-patient communication, strictly adhering to surgical standards during the operation, and implementing coordinated postoperative management. This article clarifies that "reversible" does not mean "regret-free", and that safeguarding the best interests of patients is the core responsibility of medical professionals.