Sulcus offers safer location for secondary IOL than transscleral fixation, study finds

MUNICH, Germany — Secondary implantation of a posterior chamber IOL in the sulcus had a lower rate of complications than transscleral suture fixation of an IOL in patients undergoing treatment for aphakia, according to a presentation here.

Aneta Adamczyk-Ludyga and colleagues at Poland’s Regional Railway Hospital analyzed data from 30 patients with aphakia who underwent posterior chamber IOL implantation in the sulcus and 15 patients who underwent transscleral fixation of an IOL. Follow-up ranged from 2 to 36 months. They presented their findings in a poster here at the European Society for Cataract and Refractive Surgeons.

In the sulcus fixation group, visual acuity improved by more than two Snellen lines in 12 patients, remained unchanged in 13 and became worse in five. In the transscleral suturing group, visual acuity improved in seven patients, remained unchanged in eight and decreased in three.

Fewer serious complications occurred in the sulcus fixation group, with the most common being pupil abnormalities in four patients. In the transscleral suturing group, retinal detachment occurred in two patients, choroidal detachment in three, IOL dislocation in four, astigmatism in six and cystoid macular edema in two.