Abstract:

Objective To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of the reverse scleral tunnel method in transscleral suture fixation of intraocular lens(IOL). Design Retrospective case series. Participants Fourteen eyes of 11 patients undergoing transscleral suture fixation of IOL with reverse scleral tunnel method between January 2016 and December 2017 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Methods The core techniques of surgery was making a reverse scleral tunnel from corneal limbus to conjunctival fornix which was 2.5 mm in width and 3.0 mm in length. The intrascleral suture was buried in the reverse scleral tunnel. Mean follow-up duration was 29.4±2.3 months. Main Outcome Measures Preoperative and postoperative uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), long-term stability of IOL position and postoperative complications. Results UCVA (LogMAR) improved from 1.28±0.42 at baseline to 0.40±0.35 at last visit (P<0.001). BCVA (LogMAR) improved from 0.74±0.35 at baseline to 0.24±0.31 at last visit (P<0.001). In the follow-up period, the IOL position remained stable in all subjects. There were no postoperative complications such as suture knot exposure, chronic conjunctival hyperemia, infectious endophthalmitis, and IOL dislocation. Conclusion The reverse scleral tunnel method is a long-term effective and safe method in transscleral suture fixation of intraocular lens.

Key words: intraocular lens, transscleral suture fixation, reverse scleral tunnel