Purpose: To evaluate the difficulties and results of manual extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) and phacoemulsification cataract surgery performed in previously vitrectomized eyes.
Setting: Pécs University of Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Pécs, Hungary.
Methods: This retrospective case-control study comprised a series of 84 cataract extractions with or without intraocular lens implantation. Forty-three patients had manual ECCE and 41, phacoemulsification. The intraoperative and postoperative complications and visual outcomes in the 2 groups were analyzed and compared.
Results: Cataract extractions were performed a mean of 15.8 months (range 1 to 86 months) after the pars plana vitrectomy. The indications for vitrectomy were diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, giant retinal tear, macular hole, eye trauma, vitreous hemorrhage after central retinal vein occlusion, and uveitis. Primary posterior capsule fibrosis was the most common intraoperative complication, occurring in 24% of eyes. Posterior capsule rupture occurred in 5 eyes in the ECCE group and 3 in the phacoemulsification group. Zonulysis occurred in 2 and 1 eyes, respectively. A dropped nucleus occurred in 3 cases in the phacoemulsification group. Posterior capsule opacification and secondary glaucoma were the most common postoperative complications, occurring in 5 and 3 cases in the ECCE group, respectively, and in 3 and 4 cases in the phacoemulsification group. Visual acuity 6 weeks postoperatively improved or remained within 2 Snellen lines in 95% of eyes, which is comparable to data in the recent literature.
Conclusions: Phacoemulsification gave better results than manual ECCE in previously vitrectomized eyes. Underlying retinal disease limited the final visual acuity.