ABSTRACT
This study aimed to investigate the frequent intraoperative and postoperative complications and visual outcome of phacoemulsification or extracapsular cataract extraction after vitrectomy. The authors reviewed the medical records of 30 paitients who had undergone pars palana vitrectomy and followed by cataract extraction from January, 1996 to January, 1998, and had been followed up for 3 months or longer. Associated retinal diseases included complication of diabetic retinopathy (11 cases,36.7%), vitreous hemorrhage from branch retinal vein occlusion (6 cases, 20.0%), proliferative vitreoretinopathy (4 cases,13.3%). Mean interval between two operations was 21.0 months. The most commom intraoperative complication was anterior chamber depth fluctuation (4 cases).In a few cases,we had radial tear (3 cases) in lens capsule or miosis (2 cases). The most common early postoperative complication was corneal edema and late complication was posterior capsular opacity.Postoperative visual acuity remained still or improved in 28 cases (93.37%) at postoperative 3 months. In conclusion cataract extraction after vitrectomy may be performed safely with few complications. Visual outcome was favarable but was mainly dependent on previous vitreoretinal patholgy.