Commentary: Comprehending haptic exteriorization in intrascleral haptic fixation of an intraocular lens

Assessment of refractive outcomes in eyes that underwent intraocular lens implantation in the posterior chamber but not "in-the-capsular bag:" A comparative retrospective study

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to report visual and refractive outcomes in eyes that underwent intraocular lens (IOL) fixation in the absence of capsular support.

METHODS

This was a retrospective chart review of cases undergoing posterior chamber iris-fixated IOL (IFIOL) and scleral-fixated IOL (SFIOL) implants from June 2014 to March 2020 with more than 3 months of follow-up and having a preoperative best-corrected visual acuity of 20/80 and more.

RESULTS

Records of 120 eyes of 112 patients were reviewed. The mean age of the patients was 46.9 ± 22.3 (14.4-98.0) years, and 62% (n = 70) of participants were male. Most of the eyes (102: 85%) were aphakic at the time of surgery. The mean follow-up was 22.95 ± 17.1 months. The efficacy index of sutured IFIOL and glued SFIOL outperformed sutured SFIOL at 3 months and final visits postoperatively (P < 0.001). All techniques studied here resulted in a similar safety index at 3 months (P = 0.4). The mean predictive error (postoperative spherical equivalent refraction minus intended target refraction) was +0.07 ± 1.5 D and -0.12 ± 1.4 D at 3 months and the final postoperative visit, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The studied techniques have relatively good visual and refractive outcomes in this series. In addition, techniques involving a small corneal incision with foldable IOL fixation to the iris or scleral tissue have superior efficacy and safety indices compared to creating large corneoscleral wounds for rigid IOL fixation techniques.

Double-Needle Haptic Repositioning: A Troubleshooting Technique for Flanged Intraocular Lens Fixation

PURPOSE

Haptic repositioning during flanged intraocular lens (IOL) fixation can be difficult, and the haptic requiring repositioning may be at increased risk of excessive bending or breakage. This study aimed to report double-needle haptic repositioning technique outcomes for the aforementioned difficulty during flanged IOL fixation.

METHODS

This retrospective case series included seven eyes requiring haptic repositioning during flanged IOL fixation. The method features reinsertion of an already externalized haptic into the needle lumen followed by a needle-haptic complex internalized through the original tract into the eyeball. Thus, an adequate configuration for contralateral haptic can be achieved for insertion into the needle lumen to create a double-needle condition before both haptics are successfully externalized.

RESULTS

The median follow-up duration was 24 months (range, 4-24 months). Postoperatively, the IOL was well-centered, and corrected distance visual acuity improved from 20/320 (20/4,000-20/70) to 20/50 (20/250-20/20). No intraoperative or postoperative complications were noted.

CONCLUSION

The technique produced encouraging results in patients undergoing haptic repositioning during flanged IOL fixation. This technique could potentially reduce haptic overbending risk and facilitate haptic adjustment. Further studies are needed to confirm the feasibility of the technique.

Intraocular lens implantation in the absence of capsular support: scleral-fixated vs retropupillary iris-claw intraocular lenses

Cataract surgery via phacoemulsification with intraocular lens (IOL) placement in the capsular bag is the gold standard in the presence of adequate capsular support. However, when capsule and/or zonular fibers are weak or absent, alternate fixation strategies are required. Common alternative options include retropupillary iris-claw IOLs (RP-IC IOLs) and scleral-fixated IOLs (SF IOLs). In the present review of 87 articles with 2174 eyes implanted with RP-IC IOLs and 2980 eyes with SF IOLs, we discuss the published literature with respect to safety and efficacy. Although the studies reporting outcomes of these IOLs have been performed in patients with different concomitant conditions, visual and refractive outcomes were found to be comparable between RP-IC IOLs and SF IOLs. RP-IC IOL implantation seemed to provide equivalent or a potentially lower rate of complications than SF IOL implantation. Data from the literature also suggest that the surgical technique of RP-IC IOL implantation is relatively simpler with correspondingly shorter surgical times.

Innovative intraocular lens design to manage surgical aphakia in an eye with a filtering bleb

An innovative intraocular lens (IOL), the CM-T Flex IOL, was used to correct surgical aphakia without disturbing a functioning filtering bleb. A 66-year-old man presented with aphakia in the left eye. Cataract extraction and trabeculectomy was performed in the left eye 2 years previously elsewhere. Corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) in the left eye was 6/18, and, on examination, it showed a filtering bleb that encroached on the limbus and superior cornea. The cornea was clear with a deep anterior chamber. Retinal examination was normal. Disc cupping was noted with a cup-to-disc ratio of 0.8. Refractive correction was performed by implanting the CM-T Flex IOL. This IOL has a unique design that eliminates the need for maneuvering the IOL haptics extraocularly. It entails a simple grasp, exteriorize, and release technique that anchors the IOL firmly to the scleral bed. At 6 months, CDVA in the left eye was 6/9 with a stable, centered IOL.