BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to report results, effectiveness and safety of implanting a negative collagen/HEMA copolymer posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens in moderate to highly myopic eyes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 23 eyes from 12 patients with a mean preoperative spherical equivalent refraction of - 10.94 +/- 5.97 D underwent a refractive procedure with the Staar ICL trade mark posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens. The average follow-up was 12.9 +/- 7.4 months (range 4 - 24 months). Preoperative and postoperative uncorrected and best corrected visual acuity, subjective refraction, intraocular pressure, keratometry, ICL trade mark centration and anterior subcapsular opacities were evaluated. RESULTS: Postoperative uncorrected visual acuity improved in all eyes. The best corrected visual acuity increased from 0.82 +/- 0.39 preoperatively to 1.05 +/- 0.24 postoperatively. The gain in visual acuity was statistically significant (Student t-test, p = 0.0097). The mean postoperative spherical equivalent refraction was - 0.82 +/- 1.42 D (p < 0,0001). The mean postoperative intraocular pressure was 15.65 +/- 2.72 mm Hg. The intraocular contact lens remained well centred in all eyes and no anterior subcapsular opacities were observed. Three patients underwent transcient complication without affecting the visual outcome. CONCLUSION: The use of a posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens in myopic eyes is a safe procedure to correct moderate to high myopia. Long-term results are still unknown.