IMPLANTATION OF FOLDABLE INTRAOCULAR LENSES IN THE PRESENCE OF ANTERIOR CAPSULAR TEARS

A consecutive series of patients who had undergone small-incision phac oemulsification cataract surgery with foldable lens implantation were reviewed. Seven patients had sustained anterior capsular tears during surgery, In all cases a three-piece foldable intraocular lens (IOL) wa s successfully inserted by careful positioning of the haptics. In all 6 patients available for long-term assessment the IOL remained stable and well centred, the tears having been sealed by fibrous tissue, We s how that, if logical measures are taken to limit tear extension, the l ack of an intact capsulorhexis need not result in conversion to extrac apsular cataract extraction.