Abstract
Purpose: :
To study the intraoperative and postoperative efficacy of the use of capsular tension rings (CTR) in cataract surgery complicated by Zinn zonule instability.
Methods: :
Retrospective chart review of 47 eyes from 46 patients who underwent cataract surgery from May 2001 to November 2005 in the Ophthalmology Department, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.
Results: :
Of the capsular tension rings used, 39 were Alcon ReformTM, 1 was MorcherTM and 7 were RaynerTM . The decision of CTR use was taken preoperatively in 16 cases (34%) due to post–traumatic cataract (4 eyes, 8.5%), phacodonesis (6 eyes, 12.8%), pseudoexfoliation (5 eyes, 10.6%) or high myopia (1 eye, 2.2%). Perioperative decision of CTR use was taken in 31 eyes (66%), in the majority of cases due to instability during capsulorrhexis (25 eyes, 53.2%), whereas in 17 eyes (36.2%) the CTR was inserted after phaco was initiated. Phaco with PC–IOL was successfully completed in 36 cases (76.6%). Two eyes (4.2%) received an AC–IOL after phaco. Of the remaining 9 cases (19.1%), 3 were planned ECCE, while the operation was converted to an ECCE in 5 eyes (10.6%) despite the use of CTR. Only in one eye (2.1%) the CTR had to be removed together with the capsular bag (intracapsular extraction). Average follow–up time was 6.3 months (SD: 5.8). Best corrected Snellen visual acuity at last follow–up visit was ≤0.3 in 5 eyes (10.6%), 0.31–0.69 in 8 eyes (17%) and ≥0.7 in 28 eyes (59.6%). IOL decentration was observed postoperatively in 3 cases (6.4%), whereas posterior capsule opacification was seen in 2 cases (4.25%) at last follow–up visit.
Conclusions: :
Capsular tension rings appear effective in cataract surgery in the case of compromised zonular integrity. Postoperative results were encouraging in our series.
Keywords: cataract • intraocular lens