Phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation in cases of pars planitis.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the results of phacoemulsification cataract surgery with implantation of posterior chamber intraocular lenses (IOLs) of different biomaterials in eyes with pars planitis.


METHODS
Medical and Vision Research Foundations, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, India.


METHODS
The records of 86 patients (100 eyes) with pars planitis who had phacoemulsification with IOL implantation between January 1997 and April 2003 were retrospectively analyzed. The eyes were divided into 3 groups depending on IOL biomaterial: poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) (n=32), heparin-surface-modified PMMA (n=39), or acrylic (n=29). The postoperative visual outcome and complications in each group were analyzed.


RESULTS
Forty-seven patients were men and 39, women. The mean age was 38 years (range 10 to 65 years) and the mean follow-up, 19.67 months (range 3.00 to 54.53 months). At the final follow-up, 91 eyes (91%) had better visual acuity than preoperatively; 79 had an improvement of 2 or more Snellen lines, 12 had an improvement of 1 Snellen line, 4 had no change, and 5 had a decrease as a result of reactivation of the pars planitis and progression of cystoid macular edema (CME). Significant posterior capsule opacification occurred in 10 eyes (10%), CME in 50 eyes (50%), reactivation of pars planitis in 51 eyes (51%), IOL deposits in 29 eyes (29%), IOL decentration in 1 eye (1%), and anterior capsule fibrosis in 14 eyes (14%). The most frequent cause of poor visual recovery was CME, submacular fibrosis, and epiretinal membrane. There was no statistically significant difference in these complications between the 3 groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Phacoemulsification with IOL implantation in eyes with pars planitis was safe and led to good visual outcomes in most cases. The factors in surgical success were control of inflammation, meticulous surgery, in-the-bag IOL implantation, and vigilant postoperative care.
Ganesh
Sudha K
SK
Medical and Vision Research Foundations, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, India. ganeshsugam@yahoo.com
Babu
Kalpana
K
Biswas
Jyotirmay
J
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular / Q000379:methods*; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015868:Pars Planitis / Q000601:surgery*; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000379:methods*; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D014792:Visual Acuity
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate