Intrascleral intraocular lens fixation with ab interno trabeculotomy in patients with exfoliation glaucoma with lens subluxation.

We describe three cases of pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) in which good outcomes were achieved after secondary intrascleral intraocular lens (IOL) fixation with capsule preservation for aphakic eyes. Three Japanese patients with PEX underwent phacoemulsification and aspiration (PEA) owing to challenges in IOL intracapsular fixation caused by zonular weakness. Case 1 involved an 83-year-old man with PEX. Six weeks post-PEA, 30-gauge needles were inserted to exit between the capsule and the iris. The IOL was fixed intrasclerally using the double-needle technique. Case 2 involved a 90-year-old man with PEX. The same abovementioned double-needle intrascleral IOL fixation procedure was performed eight weeks post-PEA. Intraoperative vitreous prolapse into the anterior chamber was observed, and anterior vitrectomy was performed. Case 3 involved an 80-year-old man with PEX. Seven weeks post-PEA, the patient underwent the same double-needle intrascleral IOL fixation procedure. Good IOL fixation was achieved in all patients without postoperative iris capture. No serious complications, including retinal detachment and vitreous hemorrhage, were observed. Preserving the capsule during secondary IOL scleral fixation for aphakic eyes can effectively reduce intraoperative vitreous prolapse, minimize surgical invasiveness, suppress iris flutter, and prevent capture of the pupillary IOL, making it a meaningful and acceptable approach, although the long-term risks, such as potential lens capsule drop, should be studied further.

AimsTo explore the application and long-term clinical effects of modified Yamane technique in intrascleral intraocular lens (IOL) fixation combined with or without iris reconstruction.Settings and designThe data of patients receiving IOL fixation with modified Yamane technique in an ophthalmology department between December 2021 and August 2023 were analyzed retrospectively. The longest follow-up duration was > 12 months.Methods and materialThe trailing haptic was fixed with the needle before the leading haptic. The silicone haptic stoppers were used to stabilize the IOL when iris reconstruction was combined. Preoperative and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), corneal endothelial cells (CECs), postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP), surgical indications and methods, and postoperative complications were recorded. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to evaluate IOL decentration and tilt. The paired sample t-test or Wilcoxon rank sum test were used to compare the results of the same index before and after the operation.ResultsTwelve patients (12 eyes) were included in this cohort. There were 1 case of IOL dislocation, eight cases of lens dislocation or subluxation, and three cases of aphakia. Traumatic lens dislocation was the main cause of aphakia. Primary lens extraction was performed in previous surgeries, and all three were combined with pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). Four of 12 patients underwent IOL fixation and iris reconstruction. The mean age of participants was 63 ± 10.61 years. The mean BCVA increased from 0.89 ± 0.72 logMAR to 0.39 ± 0.56 logMAR at the last visit (p < 0.05). The postoperative relative refractive error was − 0.13 ± 0.42 D (–0.60 D to + 0.57 D). The OCT showed that the IOLs were well centered, with a mean decentration of 0.20 ± 0.13 mm and a mean tilt of 2.31°±0.93°. Ten patients did not experience any complications.ConclusionsThe modified Yamane technique in IOL fixation surgery, especially combined with iris reconstruction, reduces operation difficulty, increases operational stability and safety, and improves postoperative visual acuity without serious intra- or postoperative complications. The long-term improvement effect was remarkable.

BackgroundPupillary capture can cause complications after intrascleral intraocular lens (IOL) fixation; however, no method has been established to definitively prevent pupillary capture. Therefore, we aimed to examine the differences in the incidence of pupillary capture in patients who underwent intrascleral IOL fixation and had intraoperative lens capsule preservation or lens capsule loss.MethodsThis single-center, retrospective study, conducted at a University Hospital, included 83 eyes from 83 patients. The eyes were allocated to the capsule and no-capsule groups based on the presence or absence of capsule, respectively. Patient demographics, causative diseases, incidence of pupillary capture at 1 year postoperatively, anterior chamber depths (ACDs), IOL tilts, and decentrations of the two groups were analyzed and compared.ResultsThe capsule and no-capsule groups comprised 26 and 57 eyes, respectively. The indications for intrascleral IOL fixation were: IOL dislocation in 6 (23.1%) and 41 (71.9%), artificial aphakia in 4 (15.4%) and 2 (3.5%), conversion during cataract surgery due to complications (zonular dialysis or posterior capsule rupture) in 14 (53.9%) and 3 (5.3%), lens dislocation in 0 and 11 (19.3%), and IOL opacification in 2 (7.7%) and 0 eyes in the capsule and no-capsule groups, respectively (P < 0.05). The postoperative outcomes including ACD, magnitude of tilt, or decentration of the fixed IOL did not differ between the two groups (P > 0.05). Pupillary capture was observed in eight eyes, all in the no-capsule group (P < 0.05).ConclusionsWhen performing intrascleral fixation in cases where the lens capsule remains, preserving the capsule and fixing the IOL under the capsule may prevent postoperative pupillary capture.

Peripheral Iridectomy in Intrascleral Intraocular Lens Fixation: Preventing Reverse Pupillary Block

PurposeIn this study, we aimed to report on the early results of intrascleral intraocular lens (IOL) fixation using a hook-shaped haptic IOL (hsh-IOL).Patients and MethodsWe enrolled 27 consecutive eyes of 27 patients (mean age, 74±11.4 years) who underwent intrascleral IOL fixation with an hsh-IOL and were followed-up for 3 months postoperatively. The reasons for surgery included insufficient capsular support, including IOL dislocation, aphakia, or dislocated crystalline lens. The haptic of the hsh-IOL was externalized from the eye using forceps, and the hook was buried in the scleral tunnel. We investigated the preoperative and 3-month postoperative corrected visual acuity (VA), intraocular pressure (IOP), corneal endothelial cell density, refractive prediction error, postoperative intraocular astigmatism, surgically induced astigmatism, and intraoperative and postoperative complications.ResultsThe mean postoperative corrected VA (logMAR, 0.083±0.18) was significantly better than the mean preoperative value (0.42±0.60, p=0.0007). The 3-month postoperative mean absolute prediction error was 1.00±0.96 D. The mean IOL-induced astigmatism was 0.95±0.70 D. Further, the mean postoperative corneal endothelial cell count (2036±644 cells/mm2) was significantly lower than the preoperative value (2316±527 cells/mm2) (p=0.009). No patient had a 1-month postoperative IOP <5 mmHg or >25 mmHg. There were no intraoperative or vision-threatening complications, such as retinal detachment, endophthalmitis, or IOL dislocation, due to postoperative haptics misalignment.ConclusionIntrascleral IOL fixation using hsh-IOL is an effective option for eyes with insufficient capsular support.

To evaluate the refractive prediction error in flanged intrascleral intraocular lens (IOL) fixation using the SRK/T formula and compare the axial length using a single IOL. Seventy-six eyes from 70 patients (45 males and 25 females) were included in this study. The mean age at the time of surgery was 73.4 ±12.3 years. The patients underwent flanged IOL fixation using a PN6A (Kowa). All surgeries were performed by two surgeons (Y. K. and T. O.) between Jan 2020 and Dec 2022 at Jikei University Daisan Hospital. IOL power was calculated using the SRK/T formula with IOL Master 700 (Carl Zeiss) as the bag power. The recommended value of 119.0 was used for the A-constant. The actual refractive spherical equivalent was calculated and compared with preoperative predictions. Refractive prediction errors were defined as the deviation of the actual postoperative spherical equivalent refraction in diopters from the predicted preoperative spherical equivalent refraction. The patients were divided into three groups according to axial length: <22.0 mm (short eyes), 22.0-24.5 mm (medium eyes), and >24.5 mm (long eyes), and the refractive prediction errors and mean absolute errors were compared. The mean refractive prediction error was -0.20 ± 0.52D. The mean absolute error was 0.44 ± 0.33D. The mean refractive prediction errors were not significantly different between the 22.0-24.5 mm (medium eyes) and >24.5 mm (long eyes) groups. (P=0.06) The mean absolute errors were not significantly different between the two groups (P=0.10). The SRK/T formula worked well regardless of whether the eyes were medium or long according to the axial length in the flanged intrascleral IOL fixation.

BackgroundTo report a modified surgical technique for intrascleral intraocular lens (IOL) fixation with fewer anterior segment manipulations in eyes lacking sufficient capsular support.MethodsEyes from 14 patients who underwent 27-gauge needle-guided intrascleral IOL fixation with built-in 8–0 absorbable sutures were studied. The 8–0 absorbable sutures were inserted into 27-gauge round needles and used to create sclerotomies at the 4 o’clock and 10 o’clock positions under the scleral flap. The sutures were used to tie knots at the end of each haptic and guide haptic externalization through the sclerotomy. After externalization, a sufficient flange was created at the end of each haptic and fixed under the scleral flaps. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), corneal endothelial cell density (ECD), IOL tilt and decentration, previous surgery history, and complications were determined.ResultsFourteen cases were analyzed. The majority of eyes exhibited an improvement in the BCVA after surgery. When comparing the last follow-up to preoperative visual acuity, the mean change in BCVA was + 26.32 letters (p = 0.011). Postoperative complications included postoperative hypotony in 3 eyes, ocular hypertension in 2 eyes. No cases of postoperative cystoid macular edema (CME), vitreous hemorrhage (VH), IOL dislocation, or endophthalmitis were observed.ConclusionsThe 27-gauge needle-guided intrascleral IOL fixation technique with built-in 8–0 absorbable sutures is easy to perform with fewer anterior chamber manipulations and achieves both anatomical and optical stability.

The objective of this study was to apply secondary intraocular lens (IOL) intrascleral fixation with lens capsule preservation in a patient with IOL dislocation following mature cataract surgery with incomplete continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC). A 56-year-old Japanese woman experienced distorted vision 4 days after phacoemulsification and intracapsular IOL implantation for a mature cataract. Slit-lamp examination revealed inferior-nasal dislocation of the intracapsular IOL through an anterior capsule defect (3-6 o'clock) caused by peripheral extension of the CCC during the primary surgery. IOL extraction followed by intrascleral fixation with lens capsule preservation was performed 1 week after the initial surgery. The secondary surgery involved inserting a 30 G needle between the lens capsule and iris, with IOL fixation to the sclera using a double-needle technique. The IOL optics were successfully captured through the incomplete anterior CCC of the preserved lens capsule. No intraoperative vitreous prolapse occurred, eliminating the need for a vitrectomy. The IOL remained well-fixed without IOL pupillary capture. Additionally, no significant complications such as retinal detachment or vitreous hemorrhage were observed. Preserving the capsule during secondary intrascleral fixation for IOL dislocation in patients with incomplete CCC offers several advantages, including reduced intraoperative vitreous prolapse, minimized surgical invasiveness, suppression of postoperative iris flutter, and prevention of IOL capture within the pupil. However, the long-term outcomes, including the potential risk of lens capsule drop, warrant further investigation with more cases.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of sutureless intrascleral intraocular lens (IOL) fixation with the modified Yamane technique. Methods: It was a retrospective case series study. Patients undergoing sutureless intrascleral IOL fixation with the modified Yamane technique were included at Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2022 to September 2023. Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), recorded as the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR), were measured before surgery and at 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively. Refractive error and intraocular pressure were also checked. Anterior segment examination with a slit lamp microscope, fundus examination, anterior segment and posterior segment optical coherence tomography were performed. Intraoperative and postoperative ocular complications were documented. Results: A total of 53 patients (53 eyes) were included in this study, comprising 40 males and 13 females, with a median age of 60 (49, 68) years. Among them, the proportion of a history of trauma was 22.6% (12/53). There was 1 eye with intraoperative vitreous hemorrhage (1.9%). All eyes had no obvious hypotony, no obvious inflammation in the anterior chamber, and no pupillary abnormalities at 1 week after surgery. The mean follow-up time was (8.0±3.3) months (range, 3 to 16 months). There was no iris capture, re-dislocation, or haptic exposure of the IOL during the follow-up. The corneal endothelial cell density was (2 236±704) cells/mm2 preoperatively and (1 964±628) cells/mm2 at 1 month, with significant difference (P<0.001). The UCVA (logMAR) was 1.53±0.75 preoperatively, 0.18±0.17 at 1 month, 0.15±0.14 at 3 months, and 0.14±0.13 at the final visit (P<0.001). The UCVA (logMAR) at 1 month was significantly different from that at 3 months and the final visit (both P<0.05). At 1 month, 50.9% (27/53) of the eyes had an UCVA (logMAR)≤0.1, and the rate was 56.6% (30/53) at 3 months. The BCVA (logMAR) was 0.25±0.21, 0.03±0.06, 0.02±0.06, and 0.02±0.06 before surgery, at postoperative1 month, 3 months, and the final visit, respectively (P<0.001). The BCVA (logMAR) at 1 month was not significantly different from that at 3 months and the final visit (both P>0.05). The rate of the eyes with a BCVA (logMAR)≤0 was 81.1% (43/53) at 1 month and 83.0% (44/53) at 3 months. The IOL tilt was (5.18±2.60)° at postoperative 1 month and (5.08±2.48)° at postoperative 3 months, without statistically significant difference (P>0.05). The IOL decentration was (0.35±0.24) mm at postoperative 1 month and (0.32±0.24) mm at postoperative 3 months, without statistically significant difference (P>0.05). Conclusion: Sutureless intrascleral IOL fixation with the modified Yamane technique is simpler and more minimally invasive to achieve a stable and centered IOL implantation with fewer complications and good visual prognosis.

BackgroundsHowever there have been numerous investigations of intrascleral intraocular lens (IOL) fixation techniques, there is room for improvement in terms of simplifying complicated techniques and reducing the high levels of skill required. This study aimed to report a novel technique for sutureless intrascleral fixation of the IOL using retinal forceps with a 27-gauge trocar.MethodsNineteen eyes of 18 patients underwent intrascleral fixation of the IOL from July 2018 to September 2019 were enrolled in this study. A 27-gauge trocar formed 3-mm scleral tunnels positioned at 4 and 10 o’clock, 2 mm from the corneal limbus. We used a 3-piece IOL haptic grasped by a 27-gauge retinal forceps and pulled from the 27-gauge trocar. The IOL was fixed by making a flange. Main outcome measures were visual acuity, corneal endothelial cell density, IOL tilt, decentration, predicted error of refraction and complications.ResultsThe 19 eyes were followed up for 1 month. The mean pre- and postoperative logMAR uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) was 1.06 ± 0.63 and 0.40 ± 0.26, respectively (p < 0.01), while the mean pre- and postoperative logMAR best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.27 ± 0.51 and 0.06 ± 0.15, respectively (p = 0.09). The mean corneal endothelial cell density was 2406 ± 625 to 2004 ± 759 cells/mm2 at 1 month (p = 0.13). The mean IOL tilt was 3.52 ± 3.00°, and the mean IOL decentration was 0.39 ± 0.39 mm. There was no correlation among IOL tilt, decentration and BCVA (p > 0.05). The mean prediction error of the target refraction was − 0.03 ± 0.93 D. The complications were vitreous hemorrhage (3 eyes), hyphema (1 eye), IOP elevation (1 eye), iris capture of the IOL (1 eye) and hypotony (2 eyes). No IOL dislocation occurred.ConclusionsIOL intrascleral fixation with a flange achieved good IOL fixation and visual outcome in the scleral tunnels created with the 27-gauge trocar.

Intra-vitreal gas injection and supine positioning for hypotony post-intrascleral intraocular lens fixation

To describe the facilitated trailing haptic externalization technique for intrascleral intraocular lens (IOL) fixation. In this technique, first the direction of the 4-5 mm tip of the trailing haptic is straightened with the help of forceps. After the second needle enters the posterior chamber, the edge of the IOL optic is pushed towards the opposite scleral tunnel with the needle. The trailing haptic approaching the center from the periphery and the straightened distal part of the haptic towards the direction of the needle facilitate the relatively easily and gently placing of the haptic into the lumen with a one-time use of forceps. This technique was performed on 65 eyes of 58 patients, with a mean patient age of 53.0 ± 14.6 years (range, 22-78). No complications such as endothelial touch, vitreous loss, iris or ciliary body damage, and hyphema were encountered during surgery. The mean operation duration was 14.8 ± 2.3 min (range, 12-20). In the postoperative period, there was only mild postoperative anterior chamber reaction in all eyes. Postoperative transient intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation that responded well to topical antiglucomatous therapy was observed in only two cases (3%). No patient developed haptic exposure, IOL dislocation, iris capture, postoperative hypotony, vitreous hemorrhage, choroidal effusion, cystoid macular edema, or retinal detachment. The facilitated trailing haptic externalization technique provides a safer, simpler, and minimally invasive surgery without significant complications while easing the surgical difficulties of the Yamane technique.

Postoperative complications of intrascleral intraocular lens fixation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: We have developed an endoscope-assisted single-needle technique, which is an improvement of Yamane’s double-needle technique of the intrascleral intraocular lens (IOL) fixation techniques. In this surgical procedure, the IOL is manipulated in the vitreous cavity, and the IOL haptic is externalized from the eye one by one with the aid of an ophthalmic endoscope. The purpose of this study was to report the postoperative visual function and safety of this new technique. Methods: Overall, 19 consecutive eyes (16 patients; mean age, 75.1 ± 9.6 years; mean follow-up period, 5.7 months) that underwent intrascleral IOL fixation surgery with our new technique were included in the study. Manifest refraction, uncorrected/corrected visual acuity, and corneal endothelial cell density were measured before and after surgery. Tilt and decentration of IOL were analyzed using anterior segment optical coherence tomography. Results: The mean absolute prediction error (spherical equivalent) was 0.82 ± 0.52. The mean postoperative best-corrected visual acuity had significantly improved at the final visits (p = 0.02). No significant differences in the mean corneal endothelial cell density were observed between the first (2,232 ± 751 cells/mm²) and final (2,099 ± 649 cells/mm²) visits (p = 0.35). The mean IOL tilt was 8.1 ± 3.2°. There were no vision-threatening complications, such as retinal detachment, endophthalmitis, or IOL dislocation, during or after surgery. Conclusions: The endoscope-assisted single-needle technique is a safe and effective method of intrascleral IOL fixation surgery.

ObjectivesThis study aimed to identify the etiology and the direction of dislocation of the natural crystalline lens or intraocular lens (IOL) in IOL intrascleral fixation surgery and to determine the change in intraocular pressure (IOP) after surgery.MethodsWe retrospectively investigated the diagnosis, direction of lens and IOL dislocation, and IOP before and after surgery (preoperatively and one day, one week, and one month postoperatively) in 236 eyes from 228 patients who underwent IOL intrascleral fixation at Chiba University Hospital between February 2015 and September 2020.ResultsIOL intrascleral fixation was performed in 48 (20.3%) patients with long eye axis, 44 (18.6%) with pseudoexfoliation (PEX), 42 (17.8%) with intraoperative problems such as ciliary zonule rupture or posterior capsule rupture, 40 (16.9%) with a history of trauma, 34 (14.4%) with a history of vitrectomy, 21 (8.9%) with atopic dermatitis, six (2.5%) with genetic diseases such as Marfan syndrome, four (1.7%) with retinitis pigmentosa, and 58 (24.6%) with unknown causes. Downward IOL dislocation was the most common (52 cases), while IOL falling into the vitreous cavity was seen in 46 cases, aphakic eye in 31 cases, and anterior lens dislocation in 16 cases. In general, IOP was significantly lower at one month postoperatively than preoperatively. Specifically, in the trauma, PEX, and unknown causes groups, as well as the groups with anterior lens deviation, IOL fell into the vitreous cavity, and with IOL downward deviation, IOP was significantly lower.ConclusionIOP was significantly lower one month postoperatively than preoperatively after IOL intrascleral fixation. Patients who underwent IOL intrascleral fixation surgery were most commonly found to have long eye axis, PEX, and intraoperative problems. Downward deviation of the IOL or IOL falling into the vitreous cavity was most common. IOP was significantly lower one month postoperatively than preoperatively after IOL intrascleral fixation.