• Users Online: 74798
  • Home
  • Print this page
  • Email this page

   Table of Contents      
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year : 2016  |  Volume : 64  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 124-126

Ab-interno scleral suture loop fixation with cow-hitch knot in posterior chamber intraocular lens decentration


Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey

Date of Submission05-Feb-2015
Date of Acceptance12-Dec-2015
Date of Web Publication5-Apr-2016

Correspondence Address:
Dr. Ertugrul Can
Ondokuz Mayıs University, Tıp Fakültesi, Göz Hastalıkları Anabilim Dalı, 55139 Samsun
Turkey
Login to access the Email id

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/0301-4738.179712

Rights and Permissions
  Abstract 

Aim of Study: To describe a simplified ab-interno cow-hitch suture fixation technique for repositioning decentered posterior chamber intraocular lens (PC IOL). Materials and Methods: Two cases are presented with the surgical correction of decentered and subluxated IOL. Ab-interno scleral suture fixation technique with hitch-cow knot in the eye was performed with a ciliary sulcus guide instrument and 1 year follow-up was completed. Results: Both of the patients had well centered lenses postoperatively. Corrected distant and near visual acuities of the patients were improved. There was no significant postoperative complication. In the follow-up period of 1 year, no evidence of suture erosion was found. Conclusions: Ab-interno scleral suture loop fixation with hitch-cow knot in the eye was effective in repositioning decentered or subluxated PC IOLs with excellent postoperative centered lenses and visual outcomes.

Keywords: Cow-hitch knot, intraocular lens decentration, scleral fixation


How to cite this article:
Can E, Koçak N, Yücel ÖE, Gül A, Öztürk HE, Sayin O. Ab-interno scleral suture loop fixation with cow-hitch knot in posterior chamber intraocular lens decentration. Indian J Ophthalmol 2016;64:124-6

How to cite this URL:
Can E, Koçak N, Yücel ÖE, Gül A, Öztürk HE, Sayin O. Ab-interno scleral suture loop fixation with cow-hitch knot in posterior chamber intraocular lens decentration. Indian J Ophthalmol [serial online] 2016 [cited 2024 Mar 29];64:124-6. Available from: https://journals.lww.com/ijo/pages/default.aspx/text.asp?2016/64/2/124/179712

Various techniques have been described for scleral fixation of decentered intraocular lens (IOLs) based on the shape and design of the IOL.[1],[2],[3],[4],[5],[6],[7] These methods can be divided into three groups. In the first group, the haptic is pulled outside the eye and replaced inside the eye again after making a knot. In the second group, a suture loop around the haptic is made ab-externo. In the third group, a scleral fixation of the haptic is made by tying a knot around the dislocated haptic inside the eye. Among these techniques, tying a knot inside the eye seems to be safe and less invasive as it decreases the risk for complications when removing the haptic from the eye and reduces the possibility of slippage resulting from making a suture loop. Although the latter one provides some advantages, it requires some extra manipulations. We developed a scleral fixation technique for IOL decentration that forms a cow-hitch knot around the dislocated haptic inside the eye with a minimal number of maneuvers. We also used Can ciliary sulcus guide to facilitate the safe placement of the needle into the ciliary sulcus.


  Surgical Technique Top


The conjunctiva and Tenon capsule are dissected where the dislocated haptic will be fixated. At the same meridian, a clear corneal paracentesis is made, and another clear corneal paracentesis is made at the same meridian 180° from this site. Then, an ophthalmic viscosurgical device is injected to maintain anterior chamber stability and to keep the vitreous posterior. A double-armed 10-0 straight polypropylene suture (Mani, Japan) is introduced under the haptic through the clear corneal paracentesis and pulled out through the opposite paracentesis side guided by the straight side of Can ciliary sulcus guide. It is an instrument consisting of different tips at each side. One side for curved needles and the other side for straight needles [Figure 1]a,[Figure 1]b,[Figure 1]c. At the opposite paracentesis side, a hook is introduced into the anterior chamber and remaining part of the suture was passed over the haptic and then pulled out through the paracentesis. The needle is passed through the end of the loop and then pulled slightly to initiate the formation of cow-hitch knot. Then, the needle is inserted from the back side into the ciliary sulcus guide. The guide encompassing the needle is reintroduced into the anterior chamber through the paracentesis and is proceeded over the haptic and beneath the iris until a hard stop is felt where the tip of the guide touches to the ciliary sulcus. The needle is pushed from back side while keeping it in the guide and passed through the full-thickness sclera. Once the cow-hitch knot is tightened by pulling the suture, the IOL is centered and positioned [[Figure 2]a,[Figure 2]b,[Figure 2]c,[Figure 2]d,[Figure 2]e,[Figure 2]f,[Figure 2]g,[Figure 2]h,[Figure 2]i,[Figure 2]j and Video 1]. The needle was then passed through the partial thickness of the sclera, and the suture was tied to itself. Suture knots were left long and were buried under the conjunctiva.
Figure 1: (a) Can ciliary sulcus guide has two sides for both straight and curved needles. (b) One side for curved needles. (c) One side for straight needles

Click here to view
Figure 2: (a and b) A double-armed 10-0 polypropylene suture on a straight needle is introduced under the haptic through the corneal incision. (c) The suture is pulled out through the opposite paracentesis side guided by the straight side of ciliary sulcus guide. (d) The other end of the suture is passed over the haptic and then pulled out through the paracentesis. (e) The needle is passed through the end of the loop and then pulled slightly. (f) After forming a cow-hitch knot, the needle is inserted from the back side into the ciliary sulcus guide. (g and h) The needle is pushed from the back side and passed through the sclera. (i and j) Cow-hitch knot is tightened, and the suture is tied after the intraocular lens is centered and positioned

Click here to view



  Case Reports Top


Case 1

A 58-year-old man visited our clinic with complaints of vision loss in the left eye and diplopia for 5 days. He had cataract surgery for his left eye 5 years ago. His slit lamp examination showed an inferiorly dislocated 1-piece IOL and vitreous in the anterior chamber. His preoperative uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) was 0.1, and intraocular pressure (IOP) was 16 mmHg with Goldmann applanation tonometer. IOL repositioning and fixation of the haptic to the sclera at the 12 o'clock position with our technique following anterior vitrectomy were performed. One week after the operation, his best-corrected distance visual acuity (BCDVA) was 0.8 and the IOP was 16 mmHg. Visual acuity (0.8) and centered IOL were maintained without serious complications for 1 year.

Case 2

An 82-year-old woman with a history of bilateral age-related macular degeneration was referred to our clinic with a 3-piece IOL dislocation in the right eye after a complicated phacoemulsification surgery. Her preoperative UDVA was 0.1 and IOP was 16 mmHg. The IOL was subluxated nasally. Fixation of the haptic to the sclera at the 9 o'clock position with our technique was performed without any serious intraoperative or postoperative complication. After 1 year follow-up, the IOP was 12 mmHg and BCDVA remained at 0.4. She has also bilateral age-related macular degeneration.


  Discussion Top


Considering the potential complications, scleral suture fixation of dislocated haptic would be preferred to IOL exchange. The least traumatic method to reposition the IOL is essential. Pulling outside the dislocated IOL may provide a fixed knot and reduces the likelihood of IOL slippage, but it requires rotating the IOL that may lead to damage and complications. Suture loop technique is relatively less invasive, but the absence of a knot may cause IOL slippage.

Our technique is minimally invasive and minimizes awkward manipulations. By using a closed system for fixation, we maintained the IOP control. The needle is not passed in and out of the eye several times. We also used the straight side of a ciliary sulcus guide both for mating the suture needle and piercing the sclera. Although it is an ab-interno technique, we eliminated the potential complications of blind piercing due to lack of direct viewing of the piercing point using this guide. With relatively smooth surface, this guide also minimizes the iris damage during proceeding the needle. We make a cow-hitch knot in the eye that keeps the IOL stable and reduces the risk of slippage. We can also use this method in case of in-the-bag IOL dislocation.

A 1-piece hydrophobic acrylic IOLs in the first case and a 3-piece hydrophobic acrylic IOL in the second case were used. Although planned scleral fixation of a 1-piece IOL is not indicated because of complications, IOL exchange is more complicated than scleral fixation when the issue is subluxated or dislocated IOL. Hence, it may be reasonable to fixate the current IOL to the sclera.

Postoperative infection is an issue after secondary IOL implantation or manipulation surgery, and there are several reports about endophthalmitis following scleral suture fixation techniques. [8,9] Any of other complications such as vitreous hemorrhage, hyphema, and retinal detachment were not seen in our 1–2 years follow-up.

Regardless of IOL material and design, we believe that our technique is simple and safe in repositioning of decentered, subluxated, and dislocated posterior chamber IOLs. Although our postoperative data confirm stability through 1–2 years, and it is not a short period, long-term follow-up is necessary to determine the safety of this technique.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

 
  References Top

1.
Gross JG, Kokame GT, Weinberg DV; Dislocated in-the-Bag Intraocular Lens Study Group. In-the-bag intraocular lens dislocation. Am J Ophthalmol 2004;137:630-5.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2.
Chan CC, Crandall AS, Ahmed II. Ab externo scleral suture loop fixation for posterior chamber intraocular lens decentration: Clinical results. J Cataract Refract Surg 2006;32:121-8.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.
Kokame GT, Yamamoto I, Mandel H. Scleral fixation of dislocated posterior chamber intraocular lenses: Temporary haptic externalization through a clear corneal incision. J Cataract Refract Surg 2004;30:1049-56.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.
Por YM, Lavin MJ. Techniques of intraocular lens suspension in the absence of capsular/zonular support. Surv Ophthalmol 2005;50:429-62.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5.
Kirk TQ, Condon GP. Simplified ab externo scleral fixation for late in-the-bag intraocular lens dislocation. J Cataract Refract Surg 2012;38:1711-5.  Back to cited text no. 5
    
6.
Hoffman RS, Fine IH, Packer M, Rozenberg I. Scleral fixation using suture retrieval through a scleral tunnel. J Cataract Refract Surg 2006;32:1259-63.  Back to cited text no. 6
    
7.
Hoffman RS, Fine IH, Packer M. Scleral fixation without conjunctival dissection. J Cataract Refract Surg 2006;32:1907-12.  Back to cited text no. 7
    
8.
Heilskov T, Joondeph BC, Olsen KR, Blankenship GW. Late endophthalmitis after transscleral fixation of a posterior chamber intraocular lens. Arch Ophthalmol 1989;107:1427.  Back to cited text no. 8
    
9.
Schechter RJ. Suture-wick endophthalmitis with sutured posterior chamber intraocular lenses. J Cataract Refract Surg 1990;16:755-6.  Back to cited text no. 9
    


    Figures

  [Figure 1], [Figure 2]


This article has been cited by
1 A novel pupilloplasty in crescent-shaped suturing pattern for coloboma and traumatic iris defects
Xiaoming Yao, Qian Kang, Wei Qi, Yuan Liu, Xiaoping Zhou, Mingwu Wang, Yukun Yang, Fengjiao Zhu, Wenchao Cao
BMC Ophthalmology. 2023; 23(1)
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
2 Application of the suture needle retrograde threading method in scleral fixation of intraocular lenses
Zhou Zhou, Gang Yao, Guangyi Huang, Haibin Zhong, Qi Chen, Ke Yang, Shan Zhong, Min Li, Fan Xu
BMC Ophthalmology. 2023; 23(1)
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
3 Intrascleral anchoring knot on the double suture without peritomy for fixation of intraocular lens
Sergey G. Toropygin
Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. 2022; 48(10): 1211
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
4 Management of Patient with Intraocular Lens Dislocation to the Vitreous Cavity and Intraocular Lens Suture to Sclerawith Scleral Tunnel, Gore-Tex and Cow Hitch Knot
Gabriela LópezCarasa Hernández, Nicolás Crim
Highlights of Ophthalmology. 2021; 49(5E): 21
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
5 Manejo del Paciente con Luxación de Lente Intraocular a Cavidad Vítrea y Sutura de Lente Intraocular a Esclera con Túnel Escleral, Gore-Tex y Nudo Cow Hitch
Dra. Gabriela LópezCarasa Hernández, Dr. Nicolás Crim
Highlights of Ophthalmology. 2021; 49(5S): 21
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
6 Modified sewing machine technique for iridodialysis repair, intraocular lens relocation, iris coloboma repair, Cionni ring fixation, and scleral-fixated intraocular lens
KaramsettyVenkata Ravi Kumar
Indian Journal of Ophthalmology. 2018; 66(8): 1169
[Pubmed] | [DOI]



 

Top
 
 
  Search
 
    Similar in PUBMED
   Search Pubmed for
   Search in Google Scholar for
 Related articles
    Access Statistics
    Email Alert *
    Add to My List *
* Registration required (free)  

 
  In this article
Abstract
Surgical Technique
Case Reports
Discussion
References
Article Figures

 Article Access Statistics
    Viewed2799    
    Printed52    
    Emailed0    
    PDF Downloaded263    
    Comments [Add]    
    Cited by others 6    

Recommend this journal