J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  1999 Aug;40(8):2205-2211.

Simulated Operation of Phacoemulsification, Vitrectomy and Posterior Chamber Intraocular Lens Implantation in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy Patients

• Lim SS
• Kim SD

Abstract

The combined cataract operation is increasing nowadays for the achievement of early visual rehabilitation and proper visualization of the retina during vitrectomy in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). We have ret-rospectively studied visual acuity and complications in 66 consecutive patients (81 eyes)with PDR who underwent phacoemulsification,pars plana vitrectomy and posterior chamber intraocular lens (PCL) implantation from January of 1994 to June of 1997. The age distribution was 28 to 77 years old (mean 56.0 years)and the duration of follow up was 6 to 44 months (mean 12.3 months).The improvement of visual acuity up to 2 lines on the chart was found in 63 eyes (77.8%) after the surgery and the final visual acuity of 0.5 or better was achieved in 36 eyes (44.4%). Postoperatively, rubeosis iridis developed in 5 eyes(6.2%)and reoperation was done in 7 eyes (8.6%).The improvement of visual acuity was significantly higher in eyes without diabetic nephropathy (39 eyes) (p=0.001) and significantly lower in eyes using intraocular substitutes (17 eyes) (p=0.004). The results of this study suggest that combined phacoemulsification, pars plana vitrectomy and PCL implantation are relatively effective procedures for patients with PDR.

Keyword

Diabetic nephropathy; Phacoemulsification; Vitrectomy; Proliferative diabetic retinopathy

MeSH Terms

Age Distribution
Aged
Cataract
Diabetic Nephropathies
Diabetic Retinopathy*
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Lens Implantation, Intraocular*
Lenses, Intraocular*
Phacoemulsification*
Rehabilitation
Reoperation
Retina
Visual Acuity
Vitrectomy*