To report the indications and clinical outcomes of all capsular tension ring (CTR) implantations in a large series of consecutive cataract surgeries during a five year interval in a university eye hospital.

The study was designed as a restrospective analysis of a consecutive series of 9528 cataract surgeries. The records were checked for cases in which a CTR was implanted. The indications and clinical outcomes of CTR implantation were documented and an evaluation of posterior chamber intraocular lens (PCIOL) insertion, position, and centration.

In this series, a CTR was implanted in 69 eyes of 67 patients. The indications were advanced or mature cataract in 40, post-traumatic cataract in 23, pseudoexfoliation syndrome in 4 and subluxated lens in 2 eyes. PCIOL implantation in the capsular bag was possible in 61 (90%) of these 69 eyes. In 5 (7%) additional eyes, PCIOL implantation in the ciliary sulcus was accomplished. In one eye (1%) no IOL implantation was performed because of high myopia. In only two of 69 eyes (2%), an anterior chamber intraocular lens had to be inserted despite prior CTR implantation. In 5 eyes (5%), a slight dislocation of the IOL was noted postoperatively, but none of these patients complained of visually relevant symptoms (eg, monocular diplopia).

According to our experience CTRs are used very infrequently (0.7%), but remain useful in cataract surgeries with difficult preoperative or intraoperative conditions. If zonulolysis is less than two quadrants in extent, implantation of a PCIOL was possible in 98% of cases. Implantation of CTRs with special designs may have additional advantages (eg, inhibition of posterior capsule opacity) and warrant further investigation.