[Study of the results scleral-fixated intraocular lenses in the absence of capsular support]

In the absence of sufficient capsular support, scleral fixation of the intraocular lens is an interesting alternative. The goal is to evaluate this implantation technique when traditional implantation is impossible.

This is an observational, retrospective, monocentric study at the Amiens university medical center between August 2013 and March 2016. Patients all underwent scleral fixation of a three-piece implant without suturing of the haptics, after posterior vitrectomy. All patients requiring implantation in the absence of stable capsular support were included. Patients with adequate iris or capsular support were excluded from our study.

Eighteen patients were included, with an average age of 69.3±16.9 years. The surgical indications were: complicated surgery, trauma and endothelial decompensation. The preoperative mean corrected visual acuity was 1.2±0.4 LogMAR while the postoperative acuity was 0.7±0.5 LogMAR. The mean postoperative corneal astigmatism was 1.9±1.9 diopters. The main complications observed were ocular hypertension, macular edema, retinal detachment, iris incarceration and exteriorization of the haptic.

There are two alternatives when faced with lack of a sufficient capsular support: scleral fixation or iris fixation. Our technique is the only one achievable in the presence of iris atrophy. Furthermore, it induces less astigmatism and enables the repositioning of a three-piece implant dislocated into the vitreous.

Scleral fixation is a technique allowing both a satisfactory and a lasting functional result and is to be considered when faced with a lack of sufficient capsular support.