Combining phacoemulsification and vitrectomy in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
OBJECTIVE
Modern vitrectomy and cataract extraction techniques have reached levels not imagined 20 years ago. Combining pars plana vitrectomy with phacoemulsification and posterior capsulectomy now has the potential to condense three separate procedures: pars plana vitrectomy, phacoemulsification, and YAG capsulotomy into one procedure. Interest in combined surgery is increasing as reports in the literature documenting its safety and efficacy continue to be published. The purpose of this article is to review the recent trends in combined surgery.


RESULTS
Studies have shown that when comparing sequential surgery to combined surgery, there is no significant difference in visual outcome. Multiple reports confirm the safety of combined surgery in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.


CONCLUSIONS
In select patients with diabetes, combining vitrectomy with phacoemulsification and posterior capsulectomy allows patients who often have bilateral vitreoretinal disease to come to a stable postoperative vision in the eye requiring vitreous surgery much earlier than three separate procedures spread out over months or years.
Lahey
J Michael
JM
Kaiser Permanente Medical Group, Hayward, California, USA. Mike.Lahey@kp.org
Francis
Robert R
RR
Kearney
John J
JJ
Cheung
Marsha
M
D002386:Cataract / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000379:methods*; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000379:methods*