Iris-claw intraocular lens, scleral-fixated intraocular lens, and angle-supported anterior chamber intraocular lens in Hospital Melaka: a four-year retrospective analysis

Abstract

Introduction: Cataract surgery with insufficient capsular support has become an intense challenge to surgeons in intraocular lens (IOL) selection. Anterior chamber IOL (ACIOL), iris-claw (Artisan) IOL, and scleral-fixated IOL (SFIOL) are the three common types of IOL used. However, each type of IOL has its own characteristics and different clinical requirements. IOL selection is important in ensuring good visual outcome.
 Purpose: The purpose is to compare the duration or surgery, visual outcomes, and complications among ACIOL, Artisan IOL, and SFIOL.
 Study design: Retrospective comparative analysis.
 Material and methods: This is a four-year retrospective analysis of patients who underwent either ACIOL, Artisan IOL, or SFIOL implantation between January 2014 and January 2018. Patients were divided into ACIOL, Artisan, and SFIOL groups. Demographic data, duration of surgery, preoperative and postoperative visual acuity, and postoperative complications were identified and compared among the different groups.
 Results: Sixty-four eyes from 58 patients were analysed: twenty (31.3%) eyes with ACIOL, 28 (43.8%) eyes with Artisan, and 16 (25%) eyes with SFIOL. Mean surgery times for ACIOL, Artisan, and SFIOL were: 61 ± 27.8, 64 ± 26.9, and 104.1 ± 46.8, respectively. SFIOL showed significantly longer surgery time than the ACIOL and Artisan groups (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in surgery time between the ACIOL and Artisan groups (p > 0.05). The Artisan group showed significantly better visual recovery at postoperative 1 week than both the ACIOL and SFIOL groups (Artisan vs ACIOL: 6/18 vs 6/24, p < 0.05; Artisan vs SFIOL: 6/18 vs 6/60, p < 0.05). However, final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at two months was comparable among all three groups with a median BCVA of 6/9. Elevated intraocular pressure occurred in all IOL groups, retinal detachment developedin the Artisan and SFIOL groups, epiretinal membrane developed in the ACIOL and SFIOL groups, corneal decompensation developed in the ACIOL group only. Cystoid macular oedema and IOL tilt occurred in SFIOL only.
 Conclusions: All three groups of IOL showed comparable good visual outcomes. The decision of IOL selection should be based on patients’ clinical condition and availability of surgical skill and resources.