Retrocapsular lens matter in uneventful phacoemulsification: does it really exist?
OBJECTIVE
To have the first cytopathological evaluation of any lens matter fragments within retrocapsular anterior vitreous in those patients undergone uneventful phacoemulsification in Prince of Wales Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.


METHODS
Thirty patients with cataracts and various vitreoretinal conditions that required combined surgery were recruited. After the uneventful clear corneal phacoemulsification, three sclerotomies including infusion port were created with cautions against any inadvertent leakage of vitreal content. The anterior vitreous at retrocapsular space was harvested by a special 'round-the-clock' dry vitrectomy into a special specimen reservoir hub and syringe. The aspirate was immediately fixed in 50% ethanol and together with a masked positive control sent for cytocentrifugation processing. The microscope slides of the anterior vitreal content and control were stained with haematoxylin and eosin and papanicolaou. Positive controls were collected from the effluent fluid of the phaco cassettes right after the phacoemulsification. The samples were masked and examined by an experienced pathologist for any cytopathological evidence of lens matter.


RESULTS
Out of 30 patients, three suspicious cases of retrocapsular lens fragment were noted by retroillumination on the operating table. However, all the anterior vitreous specimens were negative for lens matter whereas all the controls were positive after cytopathological verification.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first cytopathological study objectively indicating low likelihood of the postulation that retrocapsular lens matter occurred after uneventful phacoemulsification.
Liu
David T L
DT
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong, China. david_tlliu@yahoo.com
Lee
Vincent Y W
VY
Li
Chi-Lai
CL
Choi
Paul C L
PC
Lam
Philip T H
PT
Lam
Dennis S C
DS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology*; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000473:pathology*