Comparison of refractive deviations after phacovitrectomy according to the intraocular lens insertion method.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare refractive deviations between in-the-bag insertion, trans-scleral ciliary sulcus fixation, ciliary sulcus insertion, and ciliary sulcus insertion with optic capture after phacovitrectomy.

Study Design: Single-unit, single-surgeon, retrospective study.

Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent phacovitrectomy and intraocular lens (IOL) out-of-the-bag insertion simultaneously were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who underwent phacovitrectomy with IOL in-the-bag insertion were also included for comparison with those who underwent phacovitrectomy with out-of-the-bag insertion. Patients were classified into four groups based on the IOL insertion method. The average difference from the target spherical equivalent (SE) to postoperative SE was defined as the refractive deviation. Refractive deviations of the groups were compared.

Results: The refractive deviation for the in-the-bag insertion (43 eyes) was -0.18 ± 0.50 Df, -0.84 ± 0.81 D for the trans-scleral ciliary sulcus fixation (43 eyes), -0.93 ± 0.68 D for the ciliary sulcus insertion (25 eyes), and -0.27 ± 0.50 D for the ciliary sulcus insertion with optic capture group (24 eyes). The trans-scleral ciliary sulcus fixation and ciliary sulcus insertion groups had significantly different deviations than the in-the-bag group (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the ciliary sulcus insertion with optic capture and the in-the-bag insertion groups (p = 0.100).

Conclusion: Refractive deviation was significantly different between the eyes that underwent trans-scleral ciliary sulcus fixation or ciliary sulcus insertion and the eyes that underwent in-the-bag insertion. However, there was no significant deviation among the eyes that underwent ciliary sulcus insertion with optic capture.