Vitrectomy for retained lens fragments in the vitreous after phacoemulsification

PURPOSE: To assess the visual results, retinal detachment (RD) rate, incidence of glaucoma, and intraocular lens (IOL) placement after vitrectomy for removal of retained lens fragments in the vitreous after phacoemulsification. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Lund, Lund, Sweden. METHODS: This retrospective noncomparative interventional case series included all cases of pars plana vitrectomy for removal of retained lens fragments from January 1997 through January 2000. RESULTS: Sixty-six eyes of 65 patients had pars plana vitrectomy with removal of the lens material over the 3-year period. Visual acuity on presentation was 0.1 or worse in 36 eyes (54%). Visual acuity after vitrectomy was 0.5 or better in 35 eyes (53%). The postoperative visual acuity was worse than 0.1 in 14 eyes (21%). Twenty-seven (56%) of the 48 eyes operated on within 1 week and 8 (44%) of the 18 eyes operated on later achieved a visual acuity of 0.5 or better. Twelve eyes (80%) that had secondary posterior chamber IOL implantation achieved an acuity of 0.5 or better. An RD occurred in 7 eyes (11%). CONCLUSIONS: There was no statistically significant difference in outcomes between those having vitrectomy the first few days after cataract surgery and those having it later, although there was a trend toward better results when the vitrectomy was done sooner. Secondary IOL implantation resulted in a good visual outcome. Retinal detachment was the most severe complication.