Objective: To compare the outcome of 2 intraocular lens (IOL) scleral fixation techniques: double-flanged polypropylene and Hoffman scleral pocket.
Methods: Retrospective case series of all patients who underwent IOL scleral fixation by either the flange (flange group) or Hoffman scleral pocket (Hoffman group) techniques at the Kaplan Medical Center and the Edith Wolfson Medical Center.
Results: A total of 140 patients were included (63 flange, 77 Hoffman). The final distance-corrected visual acuity was similar between the flange and Hoffman groups (0.42 ± 0.5 and 0.51 ± 0.5 logMAR, respectively; p = 0.23), but the spherical equivalent was less myopic in the flange group (-0.63 ± 2 and -2.3 ± 1.3 D, respectively; p = 0.003). In the flange group, there were more cases of elevated IOP (17.5% vs 5.2%; p = 0.02), corneal edema (11.1% vs 1.3%; p = 0.02), cystoid macular edema (15.9% vs 2.6%; p = 0.005), and IOL decentration (19% vs 7.8%; p = 0.07). The flange group had a higher rate of combined additional procedures during the fixation surgery (68.3% vs 32%; p < 0.001), but surgery duration was not prolonged (70 vs 77 minutes; p = 0.29).
Conclusion: Comparison of scleral IOL fixations performed with the recently developed flange technique to the conventional Hoffman scleral pocket technique resulted in similar visual outcomes and less myopization. There were more complications in the newly adopted flange technique, which may be related to the higher rate of combined anterior vitrectomy and pars plana vitrectomy. The flange technique is effective, with a shorter learning curve and similar surgical time. Therefore, it can become a viable method for scleral IOL fixation in the absence of zonular support.
Competing Interests: Footnotes and Disclosure Arie L. Marcovich is a consultant and patent holder for EyeYon medical and a patent holder of Mor Isum, Yeda Weizmann, and Steba Medical and had no financial interest relevant to this study. Guy Kleinmann is a consultant for Hanita Lenses, Vision 6, S.I.S Shulov Innovative Science Ltd, and ORASIS and had no financial interest relevant to this study. The remaining authors have no financial or proprietary interest in any product, method, or material described here.
(Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)