Vitrectomized, non-vitrectomized eyes have similar complication rates during phaco

In the hands of an experienced surgeon, the incidence of intraoperative complications during phacoemulsification is similar between eyes that have undergone pars plana vitrectomy and those that have not, a prospective study found.

Aseema Misra, MRCOphth, and Robert L. Burton, FRCS, FRCOphth, at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital in England, prospectively collected operative complications in 2,000 consecutive cataract surgeries. Age at operation, gender and whether or not the eye with the complication had previously undergone pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) were noted in all cases. Complications included posterior capsular rupture with and without vitreous loss, iris trauma, loss of nuclear fragment into the vitreous and choroidal hemorrhage.

Of the 2,000 cases, 117 had previously undergone PPV. Of those 117, there were two cases of posterior capsular rupture. No cases of iris trauma, choroidal hemorrhage or dropped nucleus fragments into the posterior chamber had occurred.

Of the 1,883 eyes that had not undergone PPV, the rates of complications were as follows: posterior capsular rupture without vitreous loss, 0.16%; posterior capsular rupture with vitreous loss, 0.53%; iris trauma, 0.16%; choroidal hemorrhage, 0.16%; and dropped nucleus fragment in the vitreous, 0.11%.

The study is published in the May issue of the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.