Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To study the risk of cataract development in patients who had undergone pars plana vitrectomy, scleral buckle, or both. Methods:Retrospective study of phakic patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy, scleral buckle, or both at a University Eye Center between January 1998 and December 2002. Inclusion criteria included a minimum of 6 months of follow–up post–operatively and no prior intraocular surgery. Results:Mild postoperative cataract, defined as a change in severity of 1+, developed in 22 of 40 (55%) eyes following vitrectomy, 2 of 18 (11%) post scleral buckle, and 11 of 12 (92%) after both. Moderate postoperative cataract, defined as a change in severity of 2+, developed in 14 of 40 (35%) eyes post vitrectomy, 1 of 18 (6%) post scleral buckle, and 8 of 12 (67%) after both procedures. In eyes that underwent vitrectomy, a lens change of at least 2+ occurred in 10% at 3 months, 20% at 6 months, 27.5% at 12 months, and 35% at 36 months . In eyes status post scleral buckle surgery, one eye (6%) experienced a 2+ change at 36 months. In eyes that underwent both vitrectomy and scleral buckle, a lens change of at least 2+ occurred in 33% at 3 months, 42% at 6 months, 58% at 12 months, and 67% at 36 months. Cataract extraction surgery was performed in 12.2% of eyes post vitrectomy, 0% post scleral buckling, and 58.3% after both. The average time to change in lens opacity was 6.13+/– 5.24 months, 30 +/–8.5 months, and 7.25+/–7.14 months, respectively. The most common type of cataract to develop was nuclear sclerotic, which accounted for 56% of cataracts after vitrectomy, 50% after scleral buckling, and 63% after combined vitrectomy and scleral buckling. Conclusions:Scleral buckling surgery is associated with a low risk of cataract formation. Pars plana vitrectomy and combined vitrectomy and buckle have a higher risk of cataract development.
Keywords: cataract • vitreoretinal surgery