PURPOSE: To determine the visual outcome of patients following cataract surgery complicated by vitreous loss and to establish the factors, if any, that influenced the final visual outcome. METHODS: Retrospective review of all patients over a 1-year period who had planned phacoemulsification complicated by vitreous loss. Information was entered into a pre-devised proforma and the results analysed. RESULTS: Of the 1614 eyes operated on for cataract, 43 (2.66%) had surgery complicated by vitreous loss. The mean age of the patients experiencing surgical complications was 79.7 years (range 48-93 years). Twenty-three patients (53%) had at least one factor contributing to the difficulty of procedure, with dense cataract being the top factor in 11 patients. There was no statistically significant association between any pre-operative predisposing factor, stage at which vitreous loss occurred, grade of the surgeon and final visual outcome. When pre-existing co-morbidity was excluded, 26 of 30 (87%) patients achieved a best-corrected visual acuity of 6/12 or better post-operatively. Cystoid macula oedema was the underlying cause in 50% of those patients that lost one or more lines post-operatively. CONCLUSIONS: Surgeons at all levels of training had an acceptable complication rate, with the majority of patients achieving a good visual outcome. Dense cataract was the most common factor contributing to the complexity of the surgery.
PURPOSE: To determine the visual outcome of patients following cataract surgery complicated by vitreous loss and to establish the factors, if any, that influenced the final visual outcome. METHODS: Retrospective review of all patients over a 1-year period who had planned phacoemulsification complicated by vitreous loss. Information was entered into a pre-devised proforma and the results analysed. RESULTS: Of the 1614 eyes operated on for cataract, 43 (2.66%) had surgery complicated by vitreous loss. The mean age of the patients experiencing surgical complications was 79.7 years (range 48-93 years). Twenty-three patients (53%) had at least one factor contributing to the difficulty of procedure, with dense cataract being the top factor in 11 patients. There was no statistically significant association between any pre-operative predisposing factor, stage at which vitreous loss occurred, grade of the surgeon and final visual outcome. When pre-existing co-morbidity was excluded, 26 of 30 (87%) patients achieved a best-corrected visual acuity of 6/12 or better post-operatively. Cystoid macula oedema was the underlying cause in 50% of those patients that lost one or more lines post-operatively. CONCLUSIONS: Surgeons at all levels of training had an acceptable complication rate, with the majority of patients achieving a good visual outcome. Dense cataract was the most common factor contributing to the complexity of the surgery.
Authors: Fiona M Chan; Ranjana Mathur; Jack J K Ku; Ching Chen; Siew-Pang Chan; Victor S H Yong; Kah-Guan Au Eong Journal: J Cataract Refract Surg Date: 2003-03 Impact factor: 3.351