title: Posterior-assisted levitation: outcomes in the retrieval of nuclear fragments and subluxated intraocular lenses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the outcomes of posterior-assisted levitation (PAL) to retrieve nuclear fragments and subluxated intraocular lenses (IOLs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Singapore.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a retrospective series, the case notes of consecutive surgeries performed by a single surgeon between 1999 and 2006 were reviewed. Posterior-assisted levitation was performed for intraoperative posterior capsule rupture with nucleus-IOL dislocation or for late subluxation of posterior chamber intraocular lenses (PC IOLs). This was accomplished by the pars plana insertion of a needle followed by levitation of the subluxated object. Ophthalmic viscosurgical device injection was not used as an adjunct for levitation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen patients with PAL were followed for a mean of 18.71 months (range 1 to 79 months). There were 3 cases of dropped nucleus/nuclear fragments, 1 case of intraoperative subluxated PC IOL, and 10 cases of late subluxated PC IOLs. Complications included 1 case of retinal detachment occurring 20 months after PAL and 1 case of cystoid macular edema in a patient with previous anterior uveitis. Best corrected visual acuity was 20/40 or better in all except 3 patients (1 retinal detachment, 1 corneal edema/scarring, 1 unspecified).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Posterior-assisted levitation provided an effective, relatively noninvasive means of levitating nuclear fragments and PC IOLs with few complications.
authors.affiliation: Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Yong Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Por
authors.forename: Soon-Phaik
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Chee
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D020878:Device Removal; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000293:injuries; D007906:Lens Subluxation / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000379:methods*; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012421:Rupture; D016896:Treatment Outcome