Intraocular lens implantation in the absence of capsular support

In the absence of capsular support, it is not always possible to safely place an intraocular lens (IOL) in the capsular bag at the time of surgery. Several techniques have thus been developed to enable safe placement of a secondary IOL outside the capsular bag. These techniques include placement of anterior chamber IOLs, iris-fixated IOLs (sutured, iris-claw), and scleral-fixated IOLs (sutured, sutureless). Secondary IOL placement can take place at the time of the initial surgery or in a second surgery. Each technique has its own unique advantages, as well as its potential complications. At this time, comparison studies have found no secondary IOL technique to be superior in terms of visual acuity or rate of complications. Additional comparison studies with longer follow-up times are needed to confirm these findings. The decision on which secondary IOL technique to perform depends on numerous factors including surgeon experience and comfort, as well as patient comorbidities.