Background: The University of Benin Teaching Hospital was one of the pioneer centres for intraocular lens implant after extra capsular cataract extraction in Nigeria. We embraced the Iris-claw (Artisan) intraocular lens because of the considered advantage of not needing YAG laser in cases with posterior capsule opacifi cation and ease of removal in case of complications. The iris claw lens was later abandoned for posterior chamber intraocular lenses. There seem nowadays to be resurgence of artisan lenses for correction of high refractive errors in phakic eyes. This report is on our experience with the iris-claw artisan intraocular lenses in African eyes.
Case Reports: Case records of 32 serial eyes that had extra capsular cataract extraction and Iris claw artisan intraocular lens implant were reviewed. The intraocular lens- related operative and post operative complications (cornea edema, intraocular pressure, irregular pupil, hypopyon, luxation of intraocular lens, posterior capsule tear, uveitis and vitreous loss) and post operative visual acuity were documented. The minimum follow up period was 3 months. The worrisome complications in the artisan group were; post operative uveitis (44%), elevated intraocular pressure (28%) and cornea edema / striate lasting 1 week (25%).
Conclusions: African eyes react more vigorously to implantation of iris claw (Artisan) intraocular lenses leading to high percentage of post operative uveitis and consequently post operative intraocular pressure rise. Those wishing or requested to implant phakic artisan intraocular lenses in African eyes for correction of high refractive errors should do so with caution.

Keywords: uveitis, intraocular lenses, iris-claw, artisan