Secondary Carlevale Intraocular Lens implantation combined with 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) for retinal detachment: a retrospective study

To evaluate the functional and anatomical outcomes, and the risk of intraocular lens (IOL) decentration and opacification, in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and secondary aphakia undergoing 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with intravitreal gas tamponade and trans-scleral plug hydrophilic IOL scleral fixation. Aphakic patients who underwent IOL scleral fixation combined with 25-G PPV and 20% sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas tamponade for RRD were included in this retrospective, uncontrolled study. A single-piece hydrophilic acrylic trans-scleral plug-fixated IOL was implanted. Patients were instructed to maintain face-down position for seven days postoperatively. Comprehensive clinical evaluations, including visual acuity, refraction, macular optical coherence tomography (OCT), and anterior/posterior segment assessments, were conducted at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, and at the final visit. Eleven eyes from 11 patients were included in the study. The primary retinal reattachment rate was 100%. Mean baseline best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA; 0.69 ± 0.62 LogMAR, Snellen 20/98) significantly improved to 0.23 logMAR (Snellen 20/34) at last visit. Central retinal thickness (CRT) remained stable throughout the entire follow-up. The mean final spherical equivalent refraction was − 0.18 ± 0.73 diopters. No cases of IOL dislocation or opacification were observed during the follow-up period. This procedure demonstrated satisfactory functional and anatomical results with few complications, including no significant incidence of IOL opacification or displacement observed during the follow-up period.