Long-Term Outcomes after Surgery for Late In-The-Bag Intraocular Lens Dislocation: A Randomized Clinical Trial

To compare the long-term efficacy and safety of 2 operation methods for late in-the-bag intraocular lens (IOL) dislocation.

Prospective, randomized, parallel group surgical clinical trial.

During a 3-year period, 104 patients (104 eyes) were assigned one group for IOL repositioning by scleral suturing (n = 54) or one group for IOL exchange by retropupillary fixation of an iris claw IOL (n = 50). A single surgeon performed all operations using an anterior approach. Patients were examined before surgery and at 6 months and 1 and 2 years after surgery. The present study included the 66 patients (63%) who completed the 2-year follow-up, and the main outcaome measurement was corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) 2 years after surgery.

After 2 years, the mean CDVA was 0.20 ± 0.29 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) units (range, -0.18 to 1.10) in the repositioning group and 0.22 ± 0.30 logMAR (range, -0.10 to 1.22) in the exchange group (P = .69). A CDVA of 20/40 or better was achieved by 76% of all patients. Four eyes (12%) had cystoid macular edema in the repositioning group compared with 5 eyes (15%) in the exchange group. Two eyes underwent redislocation (1 in each group). There were no cases of endophthalmitis or retinal detachment.

There were no significant differences between the visual acuity using IOL repositioning and that using IOL exchange 2 years after surgery. The two methods were equally efficient and safe from a long-term perspective and are both considered acceptable treatments.