Retinal detachment after vitrectomy performed for dropped nucleus following cataract surgery: A retrospective case series

Abstract

The present retrospective study aimed to investigate the frequency, risk factors, and anatomical and visual outcomes of retinal detachment (RD) after vitrectomy performed for dropped nucleus. Medical records of the patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) due to the development of dropped nucleus after cataract surgery by phacoemulsification between 2003 and 2014 in three different centers were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic characteristics of the patients, intraocular pressure before PPV, data regarding PPV, and development of RD during follow-up period were recorded. The mean age of 79 patients with dropped nucleus enrolled in the study was 67.04 +/- 7.36 years (range, 51-82 years); 51.9% were female. Of these 79 patients, 9 (11.4%) developed RD after PPV. Anatomic success was achieved in 8 of 9 patients. Intraocular pressure before PPV was significantly higher in the patients with RD development than in those without RD development. Final visual acuity was <20/40 in 5 patients and >= 40/200 in 2 patients. No significant risk factor affecting RD development after PPV was determined in the model including age, gender, intraocular pressure before PPV, presence of intraocular lens, and severity of inflammation before PPV. Conclusively, RD is an important complication that is likely to occur in patients undergoing PPV after cataract surgery.