Material and Method: In-patient and out-patient medical records of patients that underwent phacoemulsification with IOL and CTR implantations between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2014, were reviewed for preoperative best corrected visual acuity (pre-op BCVA) and post-operative best corrected visual acuity (post-op BCVA), intraoperative and/or postoperative complications, demographic data, and degrees of zonular weakness.

Results: The present study evaluated 45 eyes from 44 patients. The mean age was 63.3±12.8 years. The zonular weakness ranged from 30 to 180 degrees, the predominant weakness was 60 degrees found in 42.2%. Posterior chamber IOL was placed in the bag 97.8% and only 2.2% in the sulcus placement. The mean pre-op BCVA was 1.5±1.0 logMAR. The median post-op BCVA at 1 (n = 40), 6 (n = 29), 12 (n = 21) months were 0.3 (0.2, 0.4), 0.3 (0.2, 0.4), 0.2 (0.1, 0.4) logMAR, respectively. Sixty-seven-point-five percent of the patients achieved post-op BCVA better than 0.3 logMAR at one month, 64.3% at six months, and 62.5% at one year. Corneal edema was the most common complication found in 38.7% (17/44) on the day after the operation due to the difficulty of the operation but improved with in the first week. Decentered IOL was noticed in only 2.3% (1/44). The authors could not find associated factor influencing visual outcome.

Conclusion: CTR insertion is beneficial in lens subluxation, which allowed safe phacoemulsification and successful IOL implantation. The authors had no financial or proprietary interest in the product, method, or material described herein.

Keywords: Capsular Tension Ring, Phacoemulsification, Subluxated lens, Visual outcome