REVIEW article
Front. Ophthalmol.
Sec. Lens and Cataract
Reverse Optic Capture in Cataract Surgery: Techniques, Indications, and Outcomes
Eric W. Lai 1
Daniel Henick 2,1
Brian M DeBroff 1
1. Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, United States
2. Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, United States
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Abstract
Reverse optic capture (ROC) is a surgical technique in which the optic of an intraocular lens (IOL) is positioned anterior to the anterior capsulotomy opening, while the haptics remain within the capsular bag. Described originally as a method to secure fixation in cases of posterior capsular rupture, ROC has since evolved as a surgical maneuver to address fixation of an IOL in the setting of a not-intact posterior capsule, toric IOL rotation, treatment of negative dysphotopsia, and correction of unanticipated postoperative hyperopia. This review highlights the development, indications, and outcomes of ROC, as well as its advantages, limitations, and future directions. Additionally, we present a case of ROC utilized to treat negative dysphotopsia. As surgical techniques and IOL technologies continues to evolve, further prospective investigation will help clarify the role of ROC in achieving stable and predictable outcomes in complex cataract and refractive surgery.
Summary
Keywords
Anterior capsulotomy, Capsular support, IOL capture, IOL centration, IOL rotational stability, Lens capsule, negative dysphotopsia, reverse optic capture
Received
04 December 2025
Accepted
20 February 2026
Copyright
© 2026 Lai, Henick and DeBroff. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Brian M DeBroff
Disclaimer
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.