title: 23-Gauge transconjunctival pars plana vitrectomy for removal of retained lens fragments.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the usefulness of 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in removing retained lens fragments and to determine which cases require 20-gauge ultrasonic fragmentation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective comparative case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty eyes in 20 consecutive patients who had 23-gauge PPV for retained lens fragments after complicated cataract surgery at Wills Eye Institute were retrospectively reviewed. Retained lens fragments were graded based on percentage of total nuclear size. Every surgical case started with 23-gauge PPV, but 1 sclerotomy was enlarged to facilitate 20-gauge ultrasonic fragmentation if all lens material could not be adequately removed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve patients (60%) were successfully managed with 23-gauge PPV alone while 8 patients (40%) required 20-gauge ultrasonic fragmentation. The 23-gauge cases had a lower percentage of retained lens fragments (median 10%, range 0% to 75%) compared to the 20-gauge cases (median 90%, range 10% to 100%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  23-Gauge PPV is a feasible approach in the surgical management of select cases of retained lens fragments.
authors: Retina Service, Wills Eye Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors: Paul S
authors: PS
authors: Baker
authors: Marc J
authors: MJ
authors: Spirn
authors: Allen
authors: A
authors: Chiang
authors: Carl D
authors: CD
authors: Regillo
authors: Allen C
authors: AC
authors: Ho
authors: James F
authors: JF
authors: Vander
authors: Richard S
authors: RS
authors: Kaiser
mesh_terms: D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007906:Lens Subluxation / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000009:adverse effects; D057972:Posterior Eye Segment / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012599:Sclerostomy; D013010:Sonication / Q000379:methods; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000379:methods*