Presentation And Outcomes Of Reper Artificial Iris Implant In Patients With Aniridia: A Case Series

The objective of our case series was to present the surgical procedure and outcomes of ten patients who underwent implantation of an Artificial Iris device (REPER) due to iris absence – Aniridia

Aniridia can result from a range of factors such as trauma, surgery, inflammation, and congenital defects. Those affected may experience symptoms like light sensitivity, glare, and reduced contrast sensitivity. A new artificial iris implant (REPER Nizhny Novgorod), which can be combined with an Intraocular Lens (IOL), has been developed, and early findings suggest that it may be an effective treatment option.

This case series includes 10 patients, aged 18 or more, who underwent artificial iris implantation (REPER) in a single tertiary medical center, between the years 2017 to 2022. The surgical procedure involves the placement of a foldable implant through a single incision and three-point fixation.

A total of ten patients underwent REPER implantation due to aniridia, of whom four were women. Nine patients had partial aniridia, and a single patient had complete aniridia. A REPER device of combined artificial iris and IOL was implanted in nine patients, while an implant without IOL was implanted in one patient. During the final follow-up visit conducted between 1 to 23 months after the operation, eight patients showed an improvement in Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA), while the remaining patients retained their pre-operative BCVA. One patient had to undergo implant removal a few years after the procedure due to edema around the implant.

This case series is currently the largest reported regarding the REPER implantation procedure and its outcomes, providing valuable evidence of its safety and effectiveness. We believe that this information will be useful to ocular surgeons in comprehending the potential benefits of utilizing the REPER implant procedure in their practice.