title: Hybrid 20/23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy for retained lens fragments after cataract surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the outcome and surgery-associated risks in patients undergoing 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for retained lens fragments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of 42 eyes of 42 consecutive patients at a tertiary teaching hospital in Sydney (Australia) during a period of 4 years. Evaluation of final visual acuity, complications, differences in patients receiving an intraocular lens at the primary cataract surgery, and differences in final visual acuity regarding the usage of a phacofragmatome and analysis of pars plana vitrectomy-related complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority (83.3%) achieved a visual acuity of 0.3 (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution) or better, and 19 eyes (45.2%) achieved a final visual acuity of 0 (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution). Overall, 95.2% of the eyes had a better postoperative visual acuity compared with the preoperative visual acuity. There were no differences in proportions regarding the final visual acuity in patients who had an intraocular lens at the time of the pars plana vitrectomy and those who had a secondary lens implant. A retinal detachment after the lens fragment removal was observed in 2 eyes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dropped lens fragments because of complicated cataract surgery can be managed well with 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy: The majority of patients achieve a good visual acuity despite 2 surgeries at a rather low rate of retinal complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barthelmes
authors.forename: Sheena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chandra
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D007906:Lens Subluxation / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*