Late dislocation of in-the-bag intraocular lenses in uveitic eyes: An analysis of management and complications

AIM: An analysis of late in-the-bag dislocation of intraocular lenses (IOL), in uveitic eyes. SETTING: Referral uveitis clinic. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All case records of eyes with chronic uveitis that had phacoemulsification with IOL implantation, at a referral uveitis clinic between February 1997 and January 2015 were retrieved and analyzed. Only those eyes with no documented intraoperative complication and no predisposing risks to IOL dislocation, such as pseudoexfoliation, high myopia, trauma, and prior VR surgery were included in this study. RESULTS: A total of 581 eyes with chronic uveitis underwent phacoemulsification with IOL implantation under steroid cover from February 1997 to December 2015. Out of these 581 eyes, 10 patients (11 eyes) had experienced late in-the-bag IOL dislocation (1.89%). All 11 eyes had chronic intermediate uveitis. The mean duration from the time of cataract surgery to IOL dislocation was 11.24 years. 5 out of 11 eyes had pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with IOL removal with 4-point sutured scleral fixated IOL. Two out of 11 eyes had PPV with in-the-bag IOL re-fixation. Out of 11, 2 eyes had PPV with IOL removal only. Remaining 2 eyes of 2 patients did not opt for surgery. Out of 11, 8 eyes had improved vision at last follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In-the-bag dislocation of IOL is a rare late complication in uveitic eyes. With tight perioperative inflammatory control, scleral-fixated posterior chamber intraocular lens or IOL re-fixation are good options of restoring vision in these high-risk eyes.