Location and composition of haptics of posterior chamber intraocular lenses. Histopathologic study of postmortem eyes.

Of 110 eyes with posterior chamber intraocular lenses (IOLs) examined postmortem, 37% had both haptics outside of the capsular bag; 57% had one haptic in the capsular bag and the other haptic outside of the bag. Typically, these optics were decentered by 1 to 2 mm. Only six eyes (5%) had both haptics within the capsular bag. Erosion into the ciliary sulcus produced obliteration of the major arterial circle of the iris in 12 eyes (11%). The local tissue response to eroding haptics was similar for haptics composed of polypropylene and haptics composed of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). The authors found considerable discrepancy between the actual location of haptics and the surgeon's desired location (i.e., capsular bag or ciliary sulcus). Most of these cases were clinically successful.