To investigate long-term efficacy and safety of an iris-claw phakic intraocular lens (ICPIOL) implantation for high myopia. A consecutive group of 86 eyes in 49 patients with -15.33±3.81 diopters (D) of myopia was implanted with the Artisan ICPIOL (Ophtec), and was evaluated preoperatively and 1, 2, 3 years postoperatively. Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), manifest refraction, intraocular pressure, and complications were evaluated. The implantation was successful in all of 86 eyes. Compared with preoperative data, UCVA, BCVA, and spherical equivalent (SE) were improved significantly (F=513.68, 20.88, 827.65; P<0.01). At 3-year postoperatively, UCVA in 85% eyes was 0.5 or better, in 35% was 0.8 or better; No loss of BCVA was found, 17% gained 1 line, and 59% gained 2 lines or more; SE in 81%, 54% eyes was within ±1.00 D, ±0.50 D of attempted, respectively. At 1-, 2-, 3-year follow-up, the corneal endothelial loss was 3.60%, 5.78%, 7.74%, respectively. There were 2 macular haemorrhages resulted from CNV, and 1 ICPIOL repositioning due to inappropriate iris capture. No other severe complications occurred. At 3-year follow-up, the implantation of the ICPIOL proved to be safe and effective for the correction of myopia in phakic eyes.