Vitreoretinal Disturbance Following Posterior Continuous Capsulorhexis

Abstract

Purpose:: To investigate the occurrence of vitreoretinal complications after primary posterior continuous capsulorhexis during phacoemulsification.

Methods:: Forty consecutive eyes of 40 patients with age-related cataract undergoing posterior continuous capsulorhexis (PCC) after uncomplicated phacoemulsification with posterior capsule opacification, resistant to exhausting posterior capule polishing were evaluated prospectively. PCC was performed under high-viscosity sodium hyaluronate initiated with cystotome, followed by viscoelasticum injection in the retrolental space of Berger and performed with Uttrata forceps. In the bag IOL implantation followed the PCC when was possible. Ocurrence of disruption of vitreous face and vitreous loss observed during the surgical procedure was noted. All eyes were submitted postoperatively to slitlamp examination, fundoscopy and optical coherence tomography for cistoid macular edema. Best correted visual acuity (BCVA) was obtained 2 weeks after surgical procedure.

Results:: Disruption of vitreous face during PCC was noted in 2 of 40 (5%) eyes. The mean size of PCC was 3.5 mm. No case of cystoid macula edema was observed. Thirty seven eyes (92.5%) had in the bag intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, and in 3 eyes (7.5%) sulcus implantation of IOL was performed. All lenses were well-centered without tilt. Mean BCVA was 20/25.

Conclusions:: PCC is a safe surgical procedure. Minimal vitreous loss and no macular disturbances were observed in this study.

Keywords: cataract • posterior capsular opacification (PCO) • retina