Scleral sutured aniridia intraocular lens (Morcher^®): indications and long-term outcomes

To evaluate the outcomes of trans-scleral sutured posterior chamber black diaphragm intraocular lens (BDIOL) (Morcher^®) implantations over 11 years.

Retrospective case-series of patients, who underwent BDIOL implantation, identified from electronic patient records system from 2006 to 2016, Moorfields Eye Hospital. Demographics, pre/post-operative, final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), diagnosis, symptomatic improvement, intraoperative and postoperative complications immediate or late were collected and analysed to relate outcomes to surgical indication.

Forty eyes of 38 patients (F:M 1:2.8) underwent BDIOL implantation with a mean surgical age of 46.6 years and follow-up of 44.5 months (range of 8–132 months). Indications included 23(57%) ocular trauma, 7(17%) congenital aniridia, 7(17%) iatrogenic lens and/or iris loss, and 3(7%) infectious keratitis. Mean preoperative BCVA was 1.64 logMAR and mean final postoperative BCVA was 0.94 logMAR with an average improvement in BCVA of 0.23 logMAR, equivalent to 1.5 lines of Snellen visual acuity. Visual results varied according to indications. Infectious cause patients had the greatest vision improvement (−0.7 logMAR), followed by trauma (−0.3 logMAR), and 25% of these achieved vision of 0.3 logMAR (6/12 in Snellen acuity) or better. Conversely, the aniridia group had the least improvement (worsened vision of 0.01 logMAR), 17 patients (42%) reported subjective improvement.

BDIOLs achieve reasonably good visual outcomes in eyes with complex vision threatening pathology. No significant intra-operative complications are documented and most post-operative complications are related to the pre-existing pathology. Post – trauma and iatrogenic aniridia have better outcomes compared to congenital aniridia.