Retinal detachment following phacoemulsification in highly myopic cataract patients.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether modern, small incision phacoemulsification techniques significantly reduce the retinal detachment (RD) risk in highly myopic patients who have visually significant cataracts.


METHODS
University-associated ophthalmology practice.


METHODS
This retrospective study included 80 eyes in 61 patients with preoperative myopia of 7.00 diopters (D) or more. Sixty-four eyes had an axial length of 25.0 mm or greater. All surgery was performed superiorly using a frown-shaped, self-sealing, scleral tunnel. The incision size ranged from 3.0 to 5.0 mm. Capsulorhexis was performed and then four-quadrant cracking phacoemulsification. The posterior capsule was routinely polished. A posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) was implanted in the capsular bag in all cases.


RESULTS
No RDs occurred during the mean follow-up of 43 months (range 9 to 77 months) or the mean follow-up after neodymium:YAG capsulotomy of 20 months. No intraoperative complications occurred. Seventy-one of 80 eyes (89%) achieved best spectacle-corrected visual acuity of 20/25 or better.


CONCLUSIONS
Retinal detachments following modern cataract surgery in high myopia are much less common than previously reported. We attribute this to small incision size, continued maintenance of the anterior chamber, posterior chamber IOL implantation, and lack of intraoperative complications.
Alldredge
C D
CD
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City 84132, USA.
Elkins
B
B
Alldredge
O C
OC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019923:Capsulorhexis; D002386:Cataract / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000150:complications*; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity