Phacoemulsification on previously vitrectomized eyes: results of a 10-year-period

PURPOSE: To provide an overview of intraoperative and postoperative complications during phacoemulsification cataract surgery and to evaluate the visual results in patients having pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with 10 years of follow-up. METHODS: Retrospective evaluation of intraoperative and postoperative complications and postoperative visual results in 134 consecutive patients who underwent phacoemulsification after PPV. Of 11,498 eyes treated with phacoemulsification, 143 (1.2%) had previous PPV during the 10-year period were included in this study. RESULTS: The phacoemulsification procedure seemed to be difficult where there was a deep or fluctuating anterior chamber (93%) and primary posterior capsule opacification (19%). The most frequent intraoperative complications were posterior capsule rupture (9%) and incomplete capsular rhexis (5%). Postoperative intraocular pressure elevation (7%), retinal detachment (6%), and posterior capsule opacification (8%) occurred most frequently during the mean follow-up period of 18.2 months (1.5-110 months). Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) increased two or more Snellen E lines in 55% of the cases or became better than or equal to 0.5 in 10% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the well-known difficulties encountered in vitrectomized eyes such as zonular damage, increased mobility of the lens-iris diaphragm, and altered intraocular fluid dynamics, phacoemulsification proved to be a safe procedure in the hands of experienced surgeons.