Visual results and complications following posterior iris-fixated posterior chamber lenses at penetrating keratoplasty.

We retrospectively reviewed the records of 13 patients with pseudophakic bullous keratopathy who had undergone penetrating keratoplasty combined with suturing of a posterior chamber intraocular lens (PC-IOL) with angulated haptics to the posterior iris using the four optic positioning holes. Corneal endothelial decompensation was associated with anterior chamber IOLs in nine cases, with iris-fixated lenses in three cases, and a subluxated PC-IOL in one case. Visual acuity was 20/40 or better in 46%, 20/50 to 20/100 in 31%, and 20/200 or worse in 23%. These visual results are comparable with those reported for other similar surgical series. In four of seven eyes that had preoperative peripheral anterior synechiae (PAS), postoperative extension of at least 2 clock hours occurred; progressive angle-closure glaucoma developed in two of the four. In all four eyes, the extension occurred in the region directly overlying the lens haptics. The angulated haptics of iris-sutured PC-IOLs may predispose to extension of PAS and development of progressive angle-closure glaucoma.