Intravitreal Phacofragmentation

Seo, Man Seong; Woo, Je Moon; Lim, In seob

Abstract

We reviewed the records of seven patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy and intravitreal phacofragmentation for removal of posteriorly dislocated lenses from September 26, 1994. to January 12, 1995. More than half volumes of crystalline lenses were dislocated during cataract extraction in four eyes, and all three eyes of dislocated lenses with intact capsules had a history of blunt trauma. Five eyes had visual acuity of 15/20 or better at 3 months after removal of intravitreal crystalline lenses. But two eyes, undergone excessive manipulation for removing intravitreal nuclear fragments via the limbus during cataract operation, had 4/20 vision with complication of retinal or choroidal detachment. These results suggest that the overall prognosis for visual recovery after pars plana vitrectomy and phacofragmentation for removal of intravitreal crystalline lens, is quite good if there were no excessive attempts to remove intravitreal lens fragment during cataract extraction.