One-year outcomes of a surgical technique for stabilizing the intraocular lens–capsular bag complex in severely subluxated cataracts using permanent polypropylene capsular hooks

Purpose To report the one-year follow-up outcomes of a surgical technique designed to rescue severely subluxated cataracts and stabilize the intraocular lens (IOL)–capsular bag complex using permanent polypropylene capsular hooks. Methods Four patients (four eyes) with severely subluxated cataracts underwent surgery. A spatula was used to elevate and stabilize the dislocated lens in the retropupillary space to facilitate capsulorhexis. Phacoemulsification and aspiration were performed using capsular retractors and a capsular tension ring. Permanent polypropylene capsular hooks were implanted to stabilize the IOL–capsular bag complex. Postoperative outcomes were assessed over a follow-up period of at least 1 year. Descriptive analyses were performed to summarize and report the outcomes of this limited case series. Results The follow-up period ranged from 13 to 20 months. All patients demonstrated improved and stable subjective refraction and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). At the final follow-up, the mean postoperative prediction error was −0.17 ± 0.29 D. Slit-lamp examinations showed that the IOL–capsular bag complex and the permanent polypropylene capsular hooks remained stable. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) revealed minimal IOL tilt of 1.52 ± 1.20. No intraoperative or postoperative complications were reported. Conclusion The technique offers a viable approach for managing severely subluxated cataracts, providing stable support for the IOL–capsular bag complex and yielding favorable clinical outcomes. However, as this novel technique was evaluated in a small sample size, further studies with larger cohorts and longer follow-up periods are needed to confirm its long-term safety and efficacy.