Phacoemulsification and pars plana vitrectomy: a combined procedure.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the results of a combined procedure including phacoemulsification, insertion of posterior chamber intraocular lens (PCIOL) and pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in eyes with vitreoretinal pathology and coexisting significant cataract.


METHODS
Retrospective, consecutive, noncomparative, interventional case series.


METHODS
Medical records of patients who had undergone phacoemulsification, PPV and PCIOL implantation as a combined procedure between January 2000 and December 2004 were retrospectively reviewed. The main outcome measures were the anatomical success of retina, defined as reattached retina, intraoperative and postoperative complications and functional success in terms of final best corrected visual acuity.


RESULTS
In all, 65 eyes of 64 patients were included. The mean age of the patients was 50.9 years +/- 17.1 (range, five to 82 years). Vitreous hemorrhage with or without retinal detachment (19 eyes, 29.2%) was the most common indication for the vitreoretinal procedure. Primary anatomical success of retina was achieved in 59 eyes (90.7%). Visual acuity improved in 48 eyes (73.8%), was unchanged in 12 eyes (18.5%) and deteriorated in five eyes (7.7%). Postoperative inflammation was significantly more in the subgroup of previously vitrectomized eyes (42%) (P =0.014, Fisher exact test) compared to those which underwent primary vitrectomy.


CONCLUSIONS
Combined surgery is a feasible option for patients with vitreoretinal diseases and cataract.
Jain
Vandana
V
Department of Cornea and External Diseases, Aditya Jyot Eye Hospital Pvt. Ltd, Wadala, Mumbai, India. docvandanajain@rediffmail.com
Kar
Dharmesh
D
Natarajan
S
S
Shome
Debraj
D
Mehta
Hitendra
H
Mehta
Hijab
H
Jayadev
Chaitra
C
Borse
Nishikant
N
D002386:Cataract / Q000150:complications; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014821:Vitrectomy; D014822:Vitreous Body