Two Cases of Flanged Intrascleral Fixation Performed with Vitrectomy and Air-fluid Exchange

Abstract

Purpose: We report two cases in which vitrectomy, air-fluid exchange, and flanged intrascleral fixation were employed to treat crystalline or intraocular lens dislocation associated with retinal detachment.Case summary: Two patients visited our clinic complaining of visual disturbance in the right and left eye respectively. At the initial visits, slit-lamp examination revealed subluxation of a crystalline lens (with zonulysis on the nasal side) in case 1 and dislocation of an intraocular lens (IOL) in case 2. Since retinal detachment was accompanied in both patients, they also underwent vitrectomy and air-liquid exchange during surgery. To fix the intraocular lens to the sclera, both ends of IOL haptics were cauterized using a low-temperature handheld device and flanged haptics had been deeply inserted into scleral tunnels. The intraocular pressure fell and vitreous hemorrhage developed immediately after surgery, but improved on additional treatment. At 18 and 6 months (cases 1 and 2) after surgery, the implanted IOLs were moved to the centers of the pupils without complications.Conclusion: Flanged intrascleral fixation is stable and effective when treating a patient who requires vitrectomy and air-fluid exchange to deal with a retinal disease.