Magnets used to help immobilize subluxated lenses during phaco

PARIS — A novel technique that uses magnets to stabilize subluxated lenses during phacoemulsification appears to be reliable, with no damage to the capsular bag reported, according to a study presented here.

Alex Zubarev, MD, and a colleague in Ekaterinburg, Russia, reported on use of the procedure in 20 eyes of 19 patients with significant lens mobility due to age-related zonular weakness, and two eyes with noticeable traumatic subluxation and zonular rupture exceeding 150°.

The results were presented in a poster here at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting.

During surgery, patients were atraumatically implanted with a magnetic needle threaded through the capsulorrhexis and into the equator of the capsular bag. The implant was held steady with a powerful magnet placed on the conjunctiva and maintained by an assistant. The magnet held the nucleus in place during phacoemulsification, according to the poster.

Following phaco, the magnetic implant was removed from the capsular bag using the attached thread, the poster authors said.

Posterior chamber IOLs were implanted in 20 eyes. Two eyes required removal of the capsular bag due to its collapse, and in these eyes an iris-fixated IOL was implanted.

Postoperatively, 11 patients achieved a visual acuity of 0.5 or better, eight patients had visual acuity of 0.2 to 0.4 and three patients were worse than 0.2, according to the study.

No complications were noted, the poster authors said. Postoperatively, 10 patients had clear corneas, eight had folds in Descemet’s membrane and three had short-term corneal edema.

The technique requires no special instrumentation. A standard needle and a magnet for foreign body removal can be used, the authors said. The technique can be used in combination with a capsular tension ring if zonular rupture is extensive, they said.