Real world outcomes of sutureless and glueless sclerally fixated intraocular lens implantation

PURPOSE: To report the outcomes of sutureless intrascleral fixation of a 3-piece intraocular lens in the ciliary sulcus, in a large cohort of patients with aphakia of various aetiology METHODS: Retrospective, non-comparative, single centre interventional study of 250 aphakic eyes of various causes, which underwent sutureless and glueless intrascleral fixation of 3-piece intraocular lens (IOL). All patients were required to have at least 3 months of follow up post procedure to be included in the study. Anatomical and functional outcomes obtained were statistically analysed for significance. RESULTS: A total of 250 eyes of 246 patients were included in the study population. The average age was 56.5 years +/- 16.4 (range 6-86 years). The mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) significantly improved from 0.74 +/- 0.6 logMAR (approx. Snellen equivalent 20/110) to 0.48 +/- 0.36 logMAR (approx. Snellen equivalent 20/60), (p < 0.001) following surgery.Early postoperative complication (<2 weeks) included hypotony (n = 10, 4%), ocular hypertension (n = 38,15.2%) and vitreous haemorrhage (n = 50, 20%). Late complications included retinal detachment (n = 14, 5.6%%), cystoid macular oedema (n = 24, 9.6%), scleral erosion (n = 1, 0.4%), haptic extrusion to subconjunctival space (n = 3, 1.2%) and IOL subluxation or dislocation (n = 5, 2%) CONCLUSION: This cost-effective and easier technique of sutureless scleral fixated 3-piece IOL implantation provided good visual acuity outcomes in a large cohort of patients and was well tolerated.

Automated summary

The sutureless intrascleral fixation of a 3-piece intraocular lens achieved good visual outcomes in a large cohort of aphakic patients and was well tolerated.