TWENTY-FIVE AND TWENTY-SEVEN-GAUGE SUTURELESS INTRASCLERAL FIXATION OF INTRAOCULAR LENSES: Clinical Outcomes and Comparative Effectiveness of Haptic Flanging in a Large Single-Surgeon Series of 488 Eyes.

PURPOSE

To describe the clinical outcomes and surgical technique in transconjunctival sutureless intrascleral fixation of intraocular lenses, including the effectiveness of haptic flanging and peripheral iridotomy.

METHOD

Retrospective series of patients who underwent sutureless intrascleral fixation of three-piece intraocular lenses by a single surgeon.

RESULTS

A total of 488 eyes were included in this study. Mean follow-up was 444 days. Mean preoperative best-corrected visual acuity was 20/355, and mean postoperative best-corrected visual acuity was 20/39 (P < 0.001). Intraocular lens dislocation occurred during the postoperative period in 67 (13.7%), with the majority (65.7%) occurring within 3 months after surgery. Dislocation occurred in 13 of 196 (6.6%) flanged haptics versus 54 of 292 (18.5%) unflanged haptics (P < 0.001). Reverse pupillary block occurred in 7 of 231 eyes (3.0%) without intraoperative peripheral iridotomy but only in 1 of 257 eyes (0.4%) with iridotomy (P = 0.0297). Other complications included haptic exposure (1.2%), retinal detachment (1.0%), and endophthalmitis (0.4%).

CONCLUSION

This is the largest reported series of sutureless intrascleral fixation of intraocular lenses using trocar cannulas. This technique is an effective surgical option with low complication rates. The authors recommend that haptic flanging and peripheral iridotomy be performed in all cases.