Short- and Long-Term Dynamics of Endothelial Cell Density and Vault Changes After Implantable Collamer Lens Implantation.
- 1Research and Development Center CREO, Clinical Ophthalmology Center SPEKTRUM, Zaolzianska 4, 53-334 Wroclaw, Poland.
- 2Department of Fundamental Problems of Technology, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland.
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Endothelial cell density (ECD) and vault height are essential safety metrics in implantable collamer lens (ICL) surgery, yet their reported decay rates vary. This study assessed short- and long-term changes in ECD and vault height. Methods: Medical records of patients undergoing V4c ICL implantation between 2014 and 2024 were reviewed. ECD loss was evaluated across three periods: early (baseline to 6 months), late (6 months to last visit), and total (baseline to last visit). Vault was measured at day 1 and months 3, 6, 12, and the last visit and decay rate was calculated for the entire follow-up period. Results: A total of 631 eyes of 323 patients were analyzed. The early, late, and total ECD losses per year were 1.81 ± 8.56% (95% CI 0.43 to 3.19), 0.68 ± 2.11% (95% CI 0.34 to 1.03), and 1.21 ± 2.58% (95% CI 0.83 to 1.59), respectively. The ECD loss rate was not correlated with vault. Vault decreased rapidly during the first 3 postoperative months (-178.0 µm/year; 95% CI, -211.4 to -144.6; p < 0.001), followed by a substantially slower but still significant decline (-19.1 µm/year; 95% CI, -23.9 to -14.2; p < 0.001). The difference between the early and late slopes was significant (p < 0.001). The vault decay rate was 6.80 ± 10.41% (95% CI, 5.48 to 8.13%) per year and was not associated with ICL size or anterior chamber depth. Conclusions: ECD loss was greatest and most variable during the first 6 months postoperatively. Thereafter, a slower sustained decline was observed. Vault decay showed a biphasic pattern, with a relatively rapid decrease during the first 3 postoperative months and a significantly slower long-term decline.
Related
- Different vault outcomes following implantable collamer lens implantation in eyes with ciliary body cysts: a case report.
- Intraoperative OCT observation of incision-related descemet membrane detachment during implantable collamer lens implantation.
- Three-Month Ocular Surface and Dry-Eye Outcomes After Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) Implantation versus Small-Incision Lenticule Extraction (SMILE): A Prospective Non-Randomized Comparative Cohort Study
- Iridocorneal Endothelial Syndrome after Implantation Collamer Lens: A Case Report
- Accuracy of NK and KS Formulas in Predicting Postoperative Vault at One Month After Implantable Collamer Lens Implantation: A Retrospective Study of 327 Eyes
BibTeX
@article{muzykawozniak2026short,
title = {{Short- and Long-Term Dynamics of Endothelial Cell Density and Vault Changes After Implantable Collamer Lens Implantation.}},
author = {Maria Muzyka-Woźniak and Adam Oleszko and Malwina Terlecka},
journal = {Medical sciences (Basel, Switzerland)},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/medsci14060656},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42930575},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Short- and Long-Term Dynamics of Endothelial Cell Density and Vault Changes After Implantable Collamer Lens Implantation.
AU - Maria Muzyka-Woźniak
AU - Adam Oleszko
AU - Malwina Terlecka
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/09
JO - Medical sciences (Basel, Switzerland)
DO - 10.3390/medsci14060656
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42930575
AB - Background/Objectives: Endothelial cell density (ECD) and vault height are essential safety metrics in implantable collamer lens (ICL) surgery, yet their reported decay rates vary. This study assessed short- and long-term changes in ECD and vault height. Methods: Medical records of patients undergoing V4c ICL implantation between 2014 and 2024 were reviewed. ECD loss was evaluated across three periods: early (baseline to 6 months), late (6 months to last visit), and total (baseline to last visit). Vault was measured at day 1 and months 3, 6, 12, and the last visit and decay rate was calculated for the entire follow-up period. Results: A total of 631 eyes of 323 patients were analyzed. The early, late, and total ECD losses per year were 1.81 ± 8.56% (95% CI 0.43 to 3.19), 0.68 ± 2.11% (95% CI 0.34 to 1.03), and 1.21 ± 2.58% (95% CI 0.83 to 1.59), respectively. The ECD loss rate was not correlated with vault. Vault decreased rapidly during the first 3 postoperative months (-178.0 µm/year; 95% CI, -211.4 to -144.6; p < 0.001), followed by a substantially slower but still significant decline (-19.1 µm/year; 95% CI, -23.9 to -14.2; p < 0.001). The difference between the early and late slopes was significant (p < 0.001). The vault decay rate was 6.80 ± 10.41% (95% CI, 5.48 to 8.13%) per year and was not associated with ICL size or anterior chamber depth. Conclusions: ECD loss was greatest and most variable during the first 6 months postoperatively. Thereafter, a slower sustained decline was observed. Vault decay showed a biphasic pattern, with a relatively rapid decrease during the first 3 postoperative months and a significantly slower long-term decline.
SN - 2076-3271
ER -