Intraocular lens implantation with flattened flanged intrascleral fixation technique in pediatric aphakia

To evaluate the clinical outcomes of flattened flanged intrascleral fixation of the intraocular lens (IOL) in cases of pediatric aphakia without adequate capsular support.

The medical records of children who underwent flattened flanged intrascleral IOL implantation for aphakia with insufficient capsular support, subluxated cataract, ectopia lentis, and dislocated IOL were reviewed retrospectively. Best-corrected visual acuity, astigmatism, corneal endothelial cell loss, IOL tilt, and intra- and postoperative complications were evaluated.

A total of 21 eyes of 16 patients were included. Mean patient age at time of surgery was 7.1 ± 3.8 years (range, 2-15). Mean follow-up time after surgery was 2.0 years. The mean pre- and postoperative best-corrected visual acuities were 1.03 ± 0.49 logMAR and 0.33 ±0.44 logMAR, respectively (P < 0.001). The mean preoperative astigmatism was 2.2 ± 0.9 D; and the mean postoperative astigmatism, 1.8 ± 0.8 D. The mean IOL tilt was 3.2° ± 3.1° (range, 0°-10°). The mean endothelial loss was 4.8%. Postoperatively, one of the haptics was partially visible in the scleral tunnel in one eye of a patient with Marfan syndrome.

In our study cohort, the flattened flanged IOL fixation technique provided good IOL fixation, with firm haptic fixation, without use of sutures or glue.