Clinical features and outcomes of pars plana vitrectomy in patients with retained lens fragments after phacoemulsification

PURPOSE: To review the clinical features and outcomes of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in patients with retained lens fragments after phacoemulsification and compare the results with those in previous studies. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, United Kingdom. METHODS: This retrospective chart review comprised 82 consecutive eyes of 82 patients who had vitrectomy for retained lens material after phacoemulsification between January 2000 and June 2006. Data on demographics, preexisting eye conditions, cataract surgery details, findings at presentation, interval between phacoemulsification and vitrectomy, details of vitrectomy, details of follow-up visits, and postoperative complications were collected. RESULTS: The incidence of raised intraocular pressure (IOP) was 46.3%. Anterior vitrectomy was associated with a lower incidence of increased IOP (P =.006). There was no association between late vitrectomy and a worse visual outcome. There was a much lower rate of complications than in other studies; the incidence of retinal detachment and of cystoid macular edema was 4.9%, and there were no cases of endophthalmitis. CONCLUSION: The incidence of raised IOP in patients who had anterior vitrectomy at the time of cataract surgery was low. The visual outcomes were good, and the incidence of complications was low irrespective of the timing of the PPV.