Wj. Rijneveld et al., IRIS CLAW LENS - ANTERIOR AND POSTERIOR IRIS SURFACE FIXATION IN THE ABSENCE OF CAPSULAR SUPPORT DURING PENETRATING KERATOPLASTY, Journal of refractive and corneal surgery, 10(1), 1994, pp. 14-19
BACKGROUND: Intraocular lens implantation in eyes with pseudophakic or
aphakic corneal edema and insufficient posterior capsular support pre
sents a surgical challenge. The iris claw lens has the advantage that
it can be fixated to the iris without sutures because the peripheral i
ris is incarcerated between the claws. METHODS: We present the results
of a study with implantation of an iris claw lens in combination with
penetrating keratoplasty in 19 eyes of 19 patients with pseudophakic
or aphakic corneal edema which lacked posterior capsular support. The
lens was fixated on the anterior iris surface (12 eyes) or posterior i
ris surface (seven eyes). RESULTS: Mean follow-up time was 11.8 months
(7 to 21 months). All grafts remained clear. One patient was lost for
follow up after 3 months. Visual acuity improved in 83% of the patien
ts. Twenty-eight percent of the patients had a visual acuity of greate
r-than-or-equal-to 20/40. Complications such as pigment dispersion, gl
aucoma, peripheral synechiae, and lens decentration were rare. CONCLUS
IONS: We feel iris claw lens implantation combined with penetrating ke
ratoplasty is a safe alternative to achieve pseudophakia in eyes with
corneal edema and inadequate posterior capsular support.