Management of nucleus loss into the vitreous: long term follow up in 63 patients.
BACKGROUND
The aim of present study is to determine the long-term results of patients who undergo pars plana vitrectomy after retained nucleus into the vitreous.


METHODS
Service of Ophthalmology, Hospital Universitari St Joan, Reus (Barcelona), Spain.


METHODS
Retrospective, noncomparative, consecutive case series. Medical records were reviewed of all patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy for retained nucleus into the vitreous after complicated cataract surgery, over a 9-year period between August 1, 1997 and July 31, 2005.


RESULTS
The incidence of retained lens fragments was 0.57% (63 patients), the postoperative visual acuity was higher than 20/40 in 59.60% and fell to 48.93% by the end of the study, and was related to the presence of CME and retinal detachment. The CME appeared in 31.91% of the patients and was related to preoperative uveitis an corneal edema. In the group of patients on whom the vitrectomy was performed at the time of cataract complication, visual acuity was higher than 20/40 in 77.77%, and no one developed secondary glaucoma or uveitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Being retrospective, our study was not result conclusive. Despite the initial good results of these patients after PPV surgery, follow-up should be accurate and over a long period of time in order to minimize postoperative complications such as retinal detachment, retinal breaks, secondary glaucoma and CME.
Romero-Aroca
Pedro
P
Servicio de Oftalmología, Hospital Universitario Sant Joan de Reus, Barcelona, Spain.
Fernández-Ballart
Juan
J
Méndez-Marín
Isabel
I
Salvat-Serra
Merce
M
Baget-Bernaldiz
Marc
M
Buil-Calvo
Jose A
JA