26-G needle-assisted sutureless glueless intrascleral haptic fixation for secondary ciliary sulcus implantation of three-piece polymethylmethacrylate intraocular lens during penetrating keratoplasty

Abstract

After tenotomy adjoining 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock limbus, 3-mm-wide partial-thickness scleral tunnels are created at these two diametrically opposite points 3 mm from the limbus such that they reach up to a distance of 1.5 mm from the limbus. Two ab externo sclerotomies are created using 26-G needles on the bed of these partial-thickness scleral tunnels. Precaution is taken to ensure that the positions of the sclerotomies are diagonally opposite each other. A scleral niche is made using a 26-G needle to accommodate the intraocular lens (IOL) haptic later. A 7.5-mm trephine is used to excise the corneal button, and anterior vitrectomy is performed. The haptic of a three-piece polymethylmethacrylate IOL is docked in a bent 26-G needle. It is then pulled out under the partial-thickness scleral tunnel and placed securely in the scleral niche opposite to the haptic. An 8-mm donor corneal button is sutured in place using 16 equidistantly placed 10-0 nylon interrupted sutures.