Neodymium:YAG laser capsulotomy in vitrectomized pseudophakic eyes with persistent endotamponade.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the feasibility and limits of neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG) laser capsulotomy in eyes with persistent endotamponade.


METHODS
Department of Ophthalmology, University Cologne, Cologne, Germany.


METHODS
In this consecutive series, an Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy was performed by 1 surgeon in 6 eyes with posterior capsule opacification (PCO) and persistent endotamponade caused by proliferative vitreoretinopathy. The endotamponade was with silicone oil (5000 centistokes) in 5 eyes and with perfluorohexyloctane (F(6)H(8)) in 1 eye. Also evaluated were 6 vitrectomized eyes without endotamponade that had an Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy for PCO by the same surgeon. All 12 eyes were pseudophakic. The mean follow-up after capsulotomy was approximately 6 months (range 2 to 12 months). Follow-up examinations included visual acuity, intraocular pressure measurement, and IOL centration and capsule reopacification evaluation.


RESULTS
The total energy required was higher in eyes with persistent endotamponade. In 3 of these eyes, the laser capsulotomy could not be successfully completed and was surgically enhanced. The laser capsulotomy in eyes without endotamponade was successful in all cases. Complete reopacification occurred in 2 eyes with persistent endotamponade within 2 months and in no eye without endotamponade. Improvement in visual acuity was limited in all eyes because of retinal pathology.


CONCLUSIONS
Neodymium:YAG laser capsulotomy in pseudophakic eyes with persistent endotamponade was successful but had a relatively high reintervention rate. The visual prognosis was limited in all cases because of retinal pathology.
Dietlein
Thomas S
TS
Department of Ophthalmology, University Cologne, Cologne, Germany. aia47@uni-koeln.de
Lüke
Christoph
C
Jacobi
Philipp C
PC
Kirchhof
Bernd
B
Krieglstein
Guenter K
GK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002386:Cataract / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019591:Pseudophakia / Q000601:surgery*; D012086:Reoperation; D012827:Silicone Oils / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014821:Vitrectomy
D005466:Fluorocarbons; D012827:Silicone Oils; C118616:perfluorohexyl-octan