Posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation after capsular tear: Ultrasound biomicroscopy evaluation

Purpose: To evaluate by ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) the exact position o f a posterior chamber intraocular lens (PC IOL) implanted above a posterior capsule tear and to correlate the findings with the outcomes and complicat ion rate. Setting. Department of Ophthalmology, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tiqva, Is rael. Methods; In a retrospective noncomparative case series, 36 patients (36 eye s) who had extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) complicated by capsular tear were evaluated. In all cases, a PC IOL was implanted above the remnan t of the capsule without suturing. Ultrasound biomicroscopy was performed t o study the exact position of the optic and haptic. The outcomes and compli cation rate were determined from patient examinations performed during a fo llow-up of 1 to 6 years. Results: Optic tilt was found in 20 of 36 patients (56%). In 17 patients (4 7%), both haptics were located in the sulcus. In 15 patients (42%), 1 hapti c was observed in the sulcus and 1 in the bag or elsewhere. No correlation was found between the position of the optic and the location of the haptics . Minimal postoperative complications were observed, and only 1 patient req uired another surgery for a dislocated IOL. Conclusion: By UBM, half the patients had optic tilt and more than half the IOLs were not implanted in the sulcus, the intended location.