title: Managing anterior capsule contraction by mechanical widening with vitrector-cut capsulotomy.
abstract: We present a technique, vitrectorhexis, in which a vitrector-cut capsulotomy is used to treat anterior capsule contraction syndrome. A vitrector handpiece is used to remove all fibrous capsule tissue and residual lens epithelial cells from the anterior chamber. Vitrectorhexis may be an alternative to neodymium:YAG laser capsulotomy as it decreases the risk of radial tear extension to the zonules and of secondary IOL decentration. The technique was used in a 77-year-old man with capsulorhexis contraction syndrome and extensive fibrosis after phacoemulsification with silicone piggyback intraocular lens implantation. One day postoperatively, visual acuity improved from 20/60 to 20/30 and the anterior chamber reaction was minimal. At 1 month, best corrected visual acuity was 20/20. The IOL was well centered at 6 months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.
authors.forename: Patrick C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Kenneth M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Goins
authors.forename: Wico W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000867:Anterior Chamber; D019923:Capsulorhexis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003286:Contracture / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D013577:Syndrome; D014792:Visual Acuity