Management of dense secondary membranes with vitrophage.

Seven patients underwent a pars plana approach membranectomy and vitrectomy with the vitrophage for the removal of dense secondary membranes after planned or unplanned extracapsular lens extractions. In all cases the membranes and synechias were removed with restoration of clarity to the ocular media. In three cases the final vision was limited by unrelated ocular anomalies. There were no postoperative corneal or retinal complications. The advantages to the pars plana approach are the small incision, the prevention of vitreocorneal adhesion, and the ease with which the surgery is performed.