COMPARISON OF SCLERAL FIXATION OF INTRAOCULAR LENS Sutureless Intrascleral Fixation Versus Conventional Sutured Scleral Fixation

Purpose: To compare the clinical outcomes of sutured scleral and sutureless intrascleral fixations of the intraocular lens. Methods: Medical records of patients who underwent sutureless intrascleral fixation (sutureless group) and the conventional sutured scleral fixation (sutured group) were retrospectively reviewed. Patient demographics and the clinical outcomes of the two techniques were compared before and 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery. Results: Seventy patients were followed up for 6 months after the surgery: 25 patients in the sutureless group (25 eyes) and 45 in the sutured group (45 eyes). Surgery time was shorter in the sutureless group than that in the sutured group (73.00 +/- 15.68 vs. 107.39 +/- 25.30 minutes, P < 0.001). The visual acuity gradually improved throughout the postoperative period in both groups, and a faster visual acuity recovery was observed in the sutureless group. The cylindrical error at 6 months after the surgery was significantly lower in the sutureless group than that in the sutured group (-1.33 +/- 0.55 vs. -2.29 +/- 1.19 diopter, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Sutureless intrascleral fixation is an effective and reliable surgical technique that provides more favorable visual and refractive outcomes than the conventional sutured scleral fixation method.