Purpose: To evaluate the complications before and after vitrectomy, their correlation with the time the lens remained in the vitreous cavity, and final visual acuity. The long-term complications were also evaluated. Methods: Retrospective study of 12 patients who had lens material in the vitreous after cataract surgery. The patients underwent vitreous surgery from November 1994 to June 2000 at the Ophthalmology Service of the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA). Results: After the displacement of the nucleus into the vitreous cavity, 5 patients had corneal edema, 3 had uveitis, 8 glaucoma, 1 retinal detachment, and all patients had reduced visual acuity. After vitrectomy, 2 patients had hyphema, 6 glaucoma, 2 retinal detachment, 1 phthisis bulbi, 1 cystoid macular edema, 2 perfluorcarbon in the anterior chamber, and 7 corneal edema. Almost all complications resolved on the long-term evaluation (mean 6 months). The length of time the nucleus remained in the vitreous cavity was less than 15 days in 3 patients and more than 15 days in 9 patients. Conclusion: The results suggest that the fragments retained in the vitreous cavity should be promptly removed to prevent the inflammatory response and to improve the visual prognosis.
Crystalline lens; Lens subluxation; Vitrectomy; Preoperative care; Postoperative complications; Visual acuity; Vitreous body; Retrospective studies
