title: A retrospective study of patients with retained nuclear fragments after cataract extraction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A registration and follow-up of patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy after dislocated nuclear fragments to the vitreous following cataract extraction.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of 125 patients referred to The National Hospital during the years 1991 to 1998. Phacoemulsification and extracapsular technique were used in 115 eyes and 10 eyes, respectively. A pars plana vitrectomy was performed within an average of 13 days (1-99 days) after cataract extraction. Average follow-up period was 9 months (0.5-35 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The visual acuity at follow-up was > or = 0.5 in 67 eyes (55.4%), <0.5->0.1 in 32 eyes (26.4%), and < or = 0.1 in 22 eyes (18.2%). The total number of retinal detachments was 26 (21.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Retained nuclear fragments in the vitreous is a serious complication and most eyes achieve acceptable visual results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Central Hospital of Buskerud, Drammen, Norway. roennaugbrandser@hotmail.com
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Olsson
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ritland
authors.forename: O M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Bjørnsson
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Syrdalen
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Eide
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Overgård
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007907:Lens Nucleus, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D007906:Lens Subluxation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014821:Vitrectomy