Visual Outcomes and Complications: Staged vs Simultaneous Pars Plana Vitrectomy and Scleral-Sutured Intraocular Lens Placement.

Purpose: To compare the visual outcomes and postoperative complications after simultaneous scleral-sutured intraocular lens (IOL) placement and pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) (simultaneous group) with those of IOL implantation staged after PPV (staged group).

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, cases of scleral-sutured IOL placement were reviewed between July 1, 2016, and December 31, 2022. All patients had scleral-sutured Akreos AO60 IOL placement using 4-point fixation.

Results

Of the 98 eyes, 83.7% had simultaneous surgery and 16.3% had staged surgery. The mean preoperative visual acuity (VA) was similar between the staged group and simultaneous group (1.8 logMAR [Snellen equivalent, 20/1262] vs 1.3 logMAR [Snellen equivalent, 20/400]; P = .104]). The mean logMAR VA improved to 0.98 (Snellen equivalent, 20/191) and to 0.50 (Snellen equivalent, 20/63), respectively. The median logMAR improvement was 0.93 (Snellen equivalent, 20/170) in the staged group and 0.80 (Snellen equivalent, 20/126) in the simultaneous group (P = .49). The overall transient postoperative hypotony rate was 8.2%, with all cases occurring in the simultaneous group (P = .194).

Conclusions

Both staged surgery and simultaneous PPV with scleral-sutured Akreos AO60 IOL placement are safe and efficacious procedures for visual rehabilitation in patients with dislocated IOLs, retained lens material, and aphakia resulting from other causes. Staged scleral-sutured Akreos AO60 IOL placement after PPV may offer a safe approach for eyes with significant ocular comorbidities and decrease the risk for transient postoperative hypotony.