Retropupillary iris-claw lens: Helpful or not?

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the preoperative and intraoperative indications, postoperative complications, incidence of secondary glaucoma, and visual outcome in patient who underwent iris-claw implantation during cataract surgery and effect of vitrectomy on postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP). Material and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted from January 2016 to February 2020. One hundred eighty-seven eyes of 187 patients who underwent iris-claw lens implantation, with minimum 1 month follow-up, were included in the study. Analysis of records was done for preoperative, intraoperative findings and was recorded and postoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and IOP were noted in each follow-up. Results: Mean preoperative BCVA of 187 eyes was 1.78 logMAR (SD 0.68), which increased to 0.61 ± 0.50, 0.36 ± 0.26, 0.21 ± 0.16 logMAR at postoperative day 1, day 7, and 1 month, respectively. Most common indications included phacodonesis (17.65%), small dilating and nondilating pupil (11.22%), zonular dialysis (6.41%), and pseudoexfoliation in (4.81%). Few patients (6.94%) had preexisting corneal pathologies which lend up in intraoperative complications that lead to iris-claw implantation. Mean IOP in vitrectomized eye after 1 month was 15.53 (SD 2.16) mm Hg and those of nonvitrectomized was 16 (SD 1.90) mm Hg. Posterior capsular rent and whole capsular bag loss were the most common intraoperative indications. Incidence of secondary glaucoma was 2.13%. Irregular pupil was the most common anterior segment finding at 1 month postoperatively. Conclusion: Retropupillary iris-claw implantation is one of the safe and least complicated methods of managing intraoperative complications which gives good visual acuity and prevent patient from the trauma of multiple surgeries.