Combined clear corneal phacoemulsification, vitreoretinal surgery, and intraocular lens implantation.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the technical feasibility, outcome, and incidence of complications after combined clear corneal phacoemulsification with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation and vitreoretinal surgery.


METHODS
Department of Ophthalmology, Giessen, Germany.


METHODS
The results of combined cataract and vitreoretinal surgery in 38 eyes (36 patients) were retrospectively analyzed. All patients had clinically significant lens opacities and vitreoretinal pathology requiring pars plana vitrectomy. Thirty-seven IOLs were implanted in the capsular bag, and 1 was sulcus fixated.


RESULTS
Postoperatively, visual acuity improved in 20 eyes (52.6%), was unchanged in 16 (42.1%), and was worse in 2 (5.3%). Postoperative complications consisted of anterior chamber fibrin exudation (3 eyes), hyphema (2 eyes), vitreous hemorrhage (1 eye), posterior capsule opacification (16 eyes), neovascular glaucoma (2 eyes), proliferative vitreoretinopathy and redetachment (1 eye), and retinal redetachment after silicone oil removal (1 eye).


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with 2 separate operations in patients with significant lens opacities and vitreoretinal pathology, combined cataract and vitreoretinal surgery provided more rapid visual rehabilitation. The visual outcome and complications depended primarily on underlying posterior segment pathology and were not related to the combined procedure technique.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000379:methods; D014822:Vitreous Body