Spontaneous dislocation of posterior chamber intraocular lenses (PC IOLs) in patients with retinitis pigmentosa – Case series

Purpose: To report the outcomes of intraocular lens (IOL) dislocation management in 6 cases with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). Setting: Private practice, Los Angeles, USA. Design: Retrospective interventional case series. Methods: The medical reports of six eyes of four RP patients with capsule bag fixated posterior chamber IOL dislocation were retrospectively reviewed. Pre-operative data included demographics, systemic or ocular disorders, history of trauma, previous intraocular surgery and pre-operative visual acuity. Outcome measures included the type of surgery, surgical complications, elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP), ocular inflammation, cystoid macular edema (CME) and IOL dislocation at 3 months or greater post-operatively. Results: The medical records of six eyes of four patients operated on between December 2009 and May 2011 were evaluated. In four cases, dislocated PC IOL implants were sutured to the sclera. In two eyes of one patient anterior chamber IOLs (AC IOLs) were implanted after PC IOLs were explanted. One eye developed CME during the follow-up period. Despite modest tilt in one case and modest decentration in another, stability and centration of the IOLs was excellent during the follow-up period. No eyes had intraocular inflammation requiring long term medical treatment, new onset glaucoma or retinal detachment. Mean follow-up time was 6.9 months (range 3-20). Conclusions: Cataract surgeons should be aware of the increased risk for decentration and malposition of PC IOLs in patients with RP. Satisfactory results can be achieved by fixation of the PC IOL or AC IOL implantation.