Phacoemulsification after retinal detachment surgery.
OBJECTIVE
Previous studies have documented a 3% to 15.5% risk of retinal redetachment in eyes with prior scleral buckling procedures that later undergo intracapsular or extracapsular cataract extraction. The authors reviewed the records of patients with a history of retinal detachment (RD) surgery and subsequent phacoemulsification to assess the risk of retinal redetachment and the visual outcomes.


METHODS
Forty-seven eyes of 44 patients with a history of scleral buckling surgery who subsequently underwent phacoemulsification were identified. Features found before, during, and after surgery were reviewed.


RESULTS
No retinal redetachments occurred on a mean follow-up of 2.3 years. Eyes with RD repair were more myopic than fellow eyes (P=<0.001), had longer axial lengths (P=0.001), had steeper keratometry readings (P=0.03), and had larger differences in K readings between principal meridians (P=0.01). Postoperative visual acuity was 20/40 or better in 72.3% of eyes and 20/80 or worse in 6.4% of eyes. Preexisting macular pathology was responsible for poor outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
The risk of redetachment after phacoemulsification in eyes with previous RD surgery is low. Despite retinal and cataract surgery, these eyes can achieve useful vision.
Kerrison
J B
JB
Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
Marsh
M
M
Stark
W J
WJ
Haller
J A
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000009:adverse effects; D012008:Recurrence; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012591:Scleral Buckling; D014130:Trabeculectomy; D014792:Visual Acuity