GONIOSCOPIC EVALUATION OF HAPTIC POSITION IN TRANSSCLERALLY SUTURED POSTERIOR CHAMBER LENSES

PURPOSE: To determine the haptic position in transsclerally sutured po sterior chamber lenses. METHODS: Fifty eyes with transsclerally suture d posterior chamber lenses were evaluated gonioscopically to determine the superior haptic position using previous peripheral iridectomies. RESULTS: The superior haptic of the transsclerally sutured posterior c hamber lens was visualized in 31 (62%) of the eyes. In 24 (77%) of the 31 eyes, the haptic was within the ciliary sulcus, and in seven (23%) , it was located posterior to the sulcus. A fibrotic membrane was dete cted around the sutured haptic in 20 (83%) of the 24 lenses located wi thin the sulcus, whereas no fibrosis was seen surrounding the seven ha ptics outside the sulcus (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Proper positioning of the haptics may be correlated with the development of fibrosis surr ounding the haptic and therefore may be an important factor in the lon g-term stability of transsclerally sutured posterior chamber lenses.