Bean-shaped Ring Segments as a Capsule Enhancement Tool in Complex Bag-in-the-Lens Intraocular Lens Implantation.

Purpose: To describe the outcome of a novel capsular or sulcular device to support the bag-in-the-lens (BIL) implant in cases of capsular or zonular instability. Bean-shaped ring segments or 'beans' (Morcher GmbH, Stuttgart, Germany) are designed to fit the groove of the BIL and may be placed in either the capsule or the ciliary sulcus in cataract cases with loose zonules or unstable capsule.
Methods: This was a retrospective single center observational study of all consecutive cases of bean implantation between May 2011 and April 2015.
Results: Sixty-four eyes of 57 patients were included in this study. Beans were used to support the BIL implant in all cases. Surgical technique, positioning, visual outcomes, refractive outcomes, and complications were evaluated in all cases. The beans were implanted in 23 eyes after IOL exchange, 14 eyes with crystalline lens dislocation, 12 eyes presenting with traumatic cataract, 8 eyes presenting with unstable capsules, and 7 eyes with postoperative visual complaints due to an unstable BIL implant. The mean increase in visual acuity was 0.35 decimal Snellen for the total cohort. Visual gain was highest in the crystalline lens dislocation (0.43 decimal Snellen) and traumatic cataract (0.41 decimal Snellen) groups. Best refractive outcomes were achieved in the traumatic cataract and intraocular lens exchange groups (0.73 and 0.80 diopters mean deviation from target refraction, respectively).
Conclusions: Bean-shaped ring segments are a useful tool to augment the stability of the capsule/zonular complex, expanding the indications of patients who can be treated with the BIL implant. [J Refract Surg. 2017;33(7):454-459.].
(Copyright 2017, SLACK Incorporated.)