[Intracapsular implantation of the Saturn-type intraocular lens during simultaneous cataract extraction and...

The authors have developed a method for implantation of the Saturn-type intraocular lens (IOL), designed by Krasnov and Pivovarov, during a simultaneous cataract extraction with trabeculectomy. Such combined operations have been carried out in one of the eyes of 15 patients suffering from senile cataracts and open-angle glaucomas, the vision acuity of the other eye being at least 0.4. The patients have been followed up for 1 to 3 yrs postoperation. The suggested variant of surgery involves but little complications and yields good immediate and late hypotensive effect. Intracapsular implantation of this IOL design provides a better intactness of the posterior epithelium of the cornea than other implantation techniques with other IOL designs. Normal ophthalmic tone has been recorded in late periods after surgery in all the cases; in one patient additional drug therapy has been necessary. The vision acuity in 14 eyes has reached 0.4 and higher, in 9 of these it has been 0.7 and higher as compared to the immediate results. Thirteen patients have recovered binocular vision; the visual field has widened in 5 eyes and has not essentially changed in 10. The authors consider that further clinical studies of the suggested technique hold good promise as regards medical and social rehabilitation of patients with senile cataracts and open-angle glaucomas.