Flattened flanged intrascleral intraocular lens fixation technique

To evaluate the visual outcomes of the patients who had undergone sutureless scleral fixated IOL implantation operation in which a new modified Yamane technique called flattened flanged intrascleral intraocular lens fixation technique was applied.

Forty-two eyes of 42 patients who had undergone scleral IOL fixation operation with Yamane technique comprised Group 1. The mean age of this group was 60.24 ± 14.3 (20–77) years. Out of 42 patients, 25 of them (60%) were males and 17 of them (40%) were females. Forty-three eyes of 43 patients who had undergone scleral IOL fixation operation with flattened flange technique comprised Group 2. The mean age of this group was 55.35 ± 15.77 (18–79) years. Out of 43 patients, 23 (53.4%) of them were males and 20 (46.6%) were females.

There were no significant differences between two groups in respect to mean preoperative UCVA, postoperative UCVA, preoperative BCVA, and postoperative BCVA (p values 0.35, 0.11, 0.28, and 0.16, respectively). The mean postoperative UCVA and preoperative BCVA were significantly higher than those of preoperative values in both groups (p < 0.05). Intraoperative haptic sliding occurred in three eyes (7%) in the first group, and there was no intraoperative haptic sliding in the second group (0%) (p = 0.05). Postoperative IOL dislocation occurred in one eye (2.5%) in the first group, and there was no postoperative IOL dislocation in the second group (0%) (p = 0.32).

In conclusion, this technique does not require sutures, decreases intraoperative haptic sliding, may provide more IOL stability and less tilt, and facilitates the implantation of the second haptic. For long-term results, further studies should be conducted.