Standardizing Flanged Intrascleral Intraocular Lens Fixation: Clinical Outcomes Using The Yamane Needle Stabilizer

To report the clinical and refractive outcomes of the needle stabilizer assisted Yamane technique for intrascleral fixation of intraocular lenses.

Wolverhampton Eye Infirmary, UK. Single-centre case series. 

Forty one patients were included in the study. Demographic and clinical data was extracted from patient case notes and electronic patient records (EPR). All patients underwent standardized flanged intrascleral intraocular lens fixation technique using Yamane needle stabilizer performed by a single experienced consultant vitreoretinal surgeon. Post-operative data including visual acuity, complications and lens position assessment were collected at day 1, month 3, 6, 12 and final available follow up. Final stable subjective refraction data was obtained from trained optometrists.

Forty one eyes with an average age of 66.9 years (range 34 to 95) were included. The most common indication for a secondary IOL was PCIOL subluxation (62.16%) followed by crystalline lens subluxation (24.32%) and aphakia (13.5%). Baseline pre-operative logMAR visual acuity was 1.5 +/-0.88. This improved to 0.44 +/- 0.64 (p<0.005) at final post-operative visit. Refractive data was obtained for 27 patients post-operatively. Mean predictive error was +0.39 +/- 1.62. Vision limiting or severe complications occurred in 4 eyes (9.8%). 2 (4.9%)further eyes had early dislocation of the SFIOL which required corrective surgery

Using the needle stabiliser of the Yamane technique is a valuable option for patients to achieve a predictable refractive outcome with comparable safety data.