Phacoaspiration with a Cionni ring versus pars plana lensectomy, vitrectomy and sutureless transscleral IOL fixation in pediatric patients with a subluxated lens.

PURPOSE: To compare outcomes of phacoaspiration (PA) with Cionni ring-assisted posterior-chamber intraocular lens implantation (PCIOL) versus pars plana lensectomy (PPL) with anterior vitrectomy (AV) and sutureless transscleral fixation of the IOL (TSFIOL) assisted with fibrin glue in the management of a subluxated lens.

METHODS

In this prospective and comparative interventional study, one eye of children with a bilateral subluxated lens was randomized to undergo PA with PCIOL using a Cionni ring (group A: n = 14 eyes), and the other eye underwent PPL + AV with glue-assisted TSFIOL (group B: n = 14 eyes). The outcome measures included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in logMAR units and rates of complications at 12-month follow-up visits.

RESULTS

28 eyes of 14 children (age: 8.06 ± 4.49 years) were included in the study. BCVA improved from preoperative value of 1.21 to 0.4 (p = 0.001) in group A and from 1.53 to 0.31 (p = 0.001) in group B at month 12. There was no significant difference in the BCVA on comparing the two groups at month 12 (p > 0.411). Postoperative complications in group A included corneal edema (two eyes), Cionni hook capture (one eye), elevated IOP (one eye), and posterior capsular opacification (five eyes). In group B, corneal edema was seen in two eyes, hypotony in one eye, vitreous hemorrhage in one eye and pupillary optic capture in four eyes.

CONCLUSION

Head-to-head comparison of the two techniques demonstrates no significant difference in the rates of complications at month 12. The decision to choose either technique may be based on the operating surgeon's skill, experience and preference.