Ultrasound biomicroscopy of haptic position after transscleral fixation of posterior chamber intraocular lenses.

PURPOSE: To determine the haptic position of ab externo transsclerally fixated posterior chamber intraocular lenses (PC IOLs) by ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM).

SETTING

Mansoura Ophthalmic Center, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.

METHODS

Ultrasound biomicroscopy was used to determine the haptic position in relation to the ciliary sulcus, iris, and ciliary body in 20 patients with transsclerally fixated PC IOLs. The patients ranged in age from 10 to 65 years.

RESULTS

All IOL haptics were easily visualized and imaged by UBM. Of the 40 IOL haptics, 22 (55.0%) were located in the sulcus, 11 (27.5%) anterior to the sulcus, and 7 (17.5%) posterior to the sulcus region.

CONCLUSIONS

Ab externo scleral fixation of PC IOLs is a blind procedure in most cases. Ultrasound biomicroscopy showed the difficulty in reliably placing the haptics in the ciliary sulcus using this technique. Thus, endoscopic visualization of the iridociliary angle during surgery is recommended.