Implantation of Posterior Chamber Lens in the Absenee of Posterior Capsular Support

ABSTRACT

In the implantation of intraocular lens, anterior chamber lenses are usually avoided in glaucoma patients. And because of its close anatomic proximity to the cornea, iris and outflow structures, anterior chamber lense may give rise to more complications as compared with posterior chamber lenses. Thus, the dramatic trend toward clear decrease in the number of anterior chamber lens implantations continues. But despite these complications, the anterior chamber lenses are most often implanted secondarily in the aphakic patients, who, after having had intracapsular cataract extraction or a complicated extracapsular cataract extraction, have lost posterior capsular support. To avoid the many potential complications associated with anterior chamber lenses, attention has shifted toward posterior chamber lens insertion in these cases and particularly in glaucoma patients. From January 1989 to June 1989, we performed newly developed surgical techniques for the implantation of posterior chamber lenses in 7 eyes, including 5 eyes with glaucoma, without posterior capsular support, This was done by securing both haptics of the posterior chamber lens to the sclera at the ciliary sulcus with 10-0 nylon suture. The patients have been followed from 3 to 8 months, all have achieved visual acuity of 20/30 or better without any serious complications, and the postoperative intraocular pressure was well controlled in all 5 eyes with glaucoma.