Stc-6 Straight-Needle Assisted Enclavation Of Retropupillary Artisan Iol Via Sutureless Partial Thickness Scleral Tunnel

To elucidate the use of STC-6 straight-needle assisted enclavation of retropupillary Artisan IOL via sutureless partial thickness scleral tunnel

Surgical aphakia (either due to intra-ocular lens drop into the vitreous cavity or due to intra-operative nucleus drop into the vitreous cavity or lens subluxation) necessitating intra-capsular cataract extraction.

5.5mm wide, partial-thickness sclerocorneal tunnel is constructed, 2mm at its apex from the superior limbus at 90°

16mm STC-6 straight needle is inserted into the anterior chamber, 1mm from the limbus, and is docked into the lumen of a 26-G needle inserted into the anterior chamber, 1mm away from the limbus, through its diametrically opposite point along the 0°-180° meridia marked pre-operatively.

Intraocular lens (Artisan Aphakic IOL, ®Ophtec Model 205) is introduced into the anterior chamber, ensuring that it is posteriorly vaulted. Artisan IOL implantation forceps (TMF710 ®Titan Medical Instruments) are used to grasp the IOL just proximal to its optic centre and manoeuvred to fixate the clips of the haptics on to the STC-6 needle.

STC-6 straight-needle can not only facilitate safe and single-handed enclavation of retropupillary Artisan IOL but also yield favourable refractive outcomes by obviating spherical aberrations arising from decentred IOL position. Also, the use of the STC-6 needle obviates the need for two additional side-port incisions since the enclavation needle is no longer necessary. Lastly, the use of the sutureless partial-thickness sclero-corneal tunnel and the absence of two additional side-port incisions preserves the cornea topography and thus facilitates better refractive outcomes.

STC-6 straight-needle can not only facilitate safe and single-handed enclavation of retropupillary Artisan IOL but also yield favourable refractive outcomes by obviating spherical aberrations arising from decentred IOL position. Also, the use of the STC-6 needle obviates the need for two additional side-port incisions since the enclavation needle is no longer necessary. Lastly, the use of the sutureless partial-thickness sclero-corneal tunnel and the absence of two additional side-port incisions preserves the cornea topography and thus facilitates better refractive outcomes.