Combined pars plana vitrectomy and cataract surgery: outcome of phacoemulsification versus manual extracapsular cataract extraction through a sclerocorneal tunnel.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the results of combined pars plana vitrectomy and cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation by phacoemulsification versus manual extracapsular cataract extraction through a sclerocorneal tunnel.


METHODS
Retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent combined pars plana vitrectomy with intraocular lens implantation and phacoemulsification or extracapsular cataract extraction through a sclerocorneal tunnel between March 1992 and July 2002.


RESULTS
Fifty-four eyes of 51 patients were evaluated. Mean age was 69.68 +/- 9.11 years, and mean follow-up was 9 months. Phacoemulsification was performed in 35 cases (64%) and manual extraction in 19 cases (36%). Visual acuity improved from mean logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution 1.69 +/- 0.54 before surgery to 1.22 +/- 0.76 after surgery. There was a greater improvement of visual acuity in the phacoemulsification group (0.59 +/- 0.67) than in the extracapsular cataract extraction group (0.22 +/- 0.68) (P = .06). Final visual acuity was correlated to the vitreoretinal pathology. Ultrasound biomicroscopy showed well-positioned foldable or rigid intraocular lens in the bag or in the sulcus.


CONCLUSIONS
Combined cataract extraction by phacoemulsification or extracapsular cataract extraction through sclerocorneal tunnel and pars plana vitrectomy are safe and effective procedures.
Department of Ophthalmology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Petah Tiqva, Israel.
Ruth
R
Axer-Siegel
Gad
G
Dotan
Irit
I
Rosenblatt
Yoav
Y
Benjamini
Dov
D
Weinberger
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019923:Capsulorhexis / Q000379:methods; D002386:Cataract / Q000150:complications; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000379:methods*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012590:Sclera / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000379:methods*