Late postoperative complications of backward implantation of a Vivarte phakic intraocular lens

A 34-year-old man had bilateral implantation of a Vivarte phakic intraocular lens (pIOL) (Ciba Vision) to correct high myopia. Postoperatively, both pIOLs appeared to have been implanted backward. After a few weeks, the position of the pIOL in the right eye was corrected in a second procedure. For unknown reasons, the pIOL in the left eye was untouched. Three years after the initial implantation, the patient visited our hospital for a second opinion. He presented with a decrease in visual acuity from an intrapupillary membrane in the left eye. Endothelial cell count of the left cornea showed markedly decreased endothelial cell density. The patient was successfully treated by removing the IOL and excising the intrapupillary membrane, leading to recovery of visual acuity. This case presents the rare occurrence and management of late postoperative complications of backward implantation of a Vivarte pIOL.