Scleral-Fixated Intraocular Lenses: Past and Present

Intraocular lenses (IOLs) can have inadequate support for placement in the capsular bag as a result of ocular trauma, metabolic or inherited conditions such as Marfan's syndrome or pseudoexfoliation, or complicated cataract surgery. Surgical options for patients with inadequate capsular support include alternative placement in the anterior chamber (ACIOLs), fixation to the iris, or fixation to the sclera. The surgical techniques for each of these approaches have improved considerably over the last several decades resulting in improved visual and ocular outcomes. If no capsular or iris support exists, the surgeon can fixate an IOL to the sclera or the patient can remain aphakic. IOLs can be fixated to the sclera using sutures or by tunneling the IOL haptics into the sclera without sutures. This review summarizes the pre-operative considerations, surgical techniques, outcomes, and unique complications associated with implantation of scleral-fixated IOLs.