Surgical management of retinal fold after 23-Gauge pars plana vitrectomy retinopexy / Manejamento cirúrgico de dobra de retina após retinopexia com vitrectomia via pars plana de 23-Gauge

Abstract The authors report a case of retinal fold after retinal detachment repair performed using 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy technic (PPV). The fundus photography and optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed a posterior retinal fold with the retina periphery attached. The patient's best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/200 with severe metamorphopsia. A 25-gauge PPV, subretinal balanced saline solution (BSS) injection using a 25-39-gauge cannula, and gas-fluid exchange were performed. The patient's BCVA improved significantly after treatment. The retinal fold observed is not a frequent complication and can be managed with PPV, subretinal BSS injection and fluid-air exchange.

Resumo Os autores relatam um caso de dobra retiniana após a cirurgia de reparação de descolamento de retina realizada com vitrectomia via pars plana de 23 gauge (VVPP). A retinografia e a tomografia de coerência óptica (OCT) mostraram uma dobra posterior da retina com a periferia da retina colada. A melhor acuidade visual corrigida do paciente foi de 20/200 e severa metamorfopsia. Foi realizada uma VVPP de 25G, injeção subretiniana de solução salina balanceada (BSS) utilizando uma cânula de calibre 25-39 e troca de fluido-gasosa. A melhor acuidade visual corrigida do paciente melhorou significativamente após o tratamento. A dobra retiniana não é uma complicação freqüente e pode ser tratada com VVPP, realização de injeção subretiniana de BSS e troca fluido-gasosa.

Enxerto de retalho escleral de doador como tratamento definitivo de maculopatia hipotônica pós trabeculectomia / Scleral patch as a definitive treatment for hypotonic maculopathy after trabeculectomy

RESUMO Paciente do sexo feminino, portadora de glaucoma juvenil sem controle clínico adequado, foi submetida à trabeculectomia com mitomicina C, após a qual, desenvolveu hipotensão ocular refratária às medidas conservadoras, evoluindo com um quadro de maculopatia hipotônica. Foi realizado um implante de enxerto de retalho escleral de doador sobre a fístula, com resolução do quadro e ganho de acuidade visual. A enxertia de retalho escleral de doador mostrou-se uma terapia adequada para correção da hipotensão ocular por bolha hiperfiltrante pós trabeculectomia. O cirurgião deve considerar o emprego dessa técnica ao programar a revisão destes casos.

ABSTRACT A female patient with juvenile glaucoma without clinical control underwent a trabeculectomy with mitomycin C, and developed eye hypotension which did not respond to conservative treatment, with subsequent hypotonic maculopathy. The patient was treated using a scleral patch provided by a donor above the fistula, which improved intraocular pressure and visual acuity. The use of the scleral patch above the fistula seems an adequate therapy to treat ocular hypotension due to the over-filtering trabeculectomy bubble. The surgeon should consider this technique when planning surgical solutions for such cases.

Bilateral maculopathy following electrical burn: case report / Maculopatia bilateral após queimadura elétrica: relato de caso

CONTEXT: Electrical burns are an important etiology in dealing with patients suffering from burns. In situations of extensive deep lesions of multiple organs and systems affecting young and economically active people, there is a need for expensive multidisciplinary treatment, with a high socioeconomic cost for the community. Among the permanent injuries that explain this high cost, eye injuries stand out, since they are widely disabling. Although rare, lesions of the posterior segment of the eye are associated with higher incidence of major sequelae, and thus deserve special attention for dissemination and discussion of the few cases observed. CASE REPORT: The authors report the case of a patient who suffered high-voltage electrical burns and presented bilateral maculopathy, which evolved with a need for a surgical approach to repair retinal detachment and permanent low visual acuity. CONCLUSION: This report highlights the rarity of the etiology of maculopathy and the need for campaigns for prevention not only of burns in general, but also especially of electrical burns. .

CONTEXTO: As queimaduras elétricas representam etiologia importante na abordagem de pacientes vítimas de queimaduras. Lesões extensas e profundas de múltiplos órgãos e sistemas e o acometimento de população jovem economicamente ativa apontam para a necessidade de tratamento multidisciplinar dispendioso, com alto custo socioeconômico para as comunidades. Dentre as lesões permanentes que justificam esse alto custo, as oculares têm local de destaque, porque são amplamente incapacitantes. Embora raras, as lesões do segmento posterior do olho estão associadas a maior incidência de sequelas importantes, merecendo atenção especial para divulgação e discussão dos poucos casos observados. RELATO DE CASO: Os autores relatam o caso de paciente vítima de queimadura elétrica com fio de alta voltagem que apresentou maculopatia bilateral, evoluindo com necessidade de abordagem cirúrgica para correção de descolamento de retina e baixa acuidade visual permanente. CONCLUSÃO: Este relato destaca a raridade da etiologia da maculopatia e a necessidade de campanhas de prevenção não só das queimaduras em geral, mas especialmente das queimaduras elétricas. .

Inverted autologous internal limiting membrane for management of optic disc pit with macular detachment

Macular detachment causes visual deterioration in 25-75% of patients with congenital optic disc pit. A number of treatment options have been reported to manage the macular detachment in optic pit. An optic disc pit represents a defect in the lamina cribrosa; theoretically, an ideal procedure to treat optic pit associated macular detachment would be one that prevents the flow of fluid across the pit by creating an additional barrier. We present a new surgical technique that employs an autologous internal limiting membrane [ILM] to create this barrier. The technique involves standard vitrectomy along-with ILM peeling. Subsequently, the peeled ILM was inverted and transplanted onto the optic disc pit to close the optic nerve pit. This technique showed satisfactory anatomic result with good functional improvement in visual acuity

novel navigated laser system brings new efficacy to the treatment of retinovascular disorders

The laser photocoagulation is now treatment of choice for various retinovascular disorders. Conventional slit-lamp based laser delivery systems have many limitations including, questionable accuracy, need of contact lens with local anesthesia, and inadvertent damage to fovea. Navigated laser system, a fundus camera based laser delivery system with computer based laser planning and laser treatment without contact lens achieves improved patient compliance, improved accuracy, and treatment ease for the physician, efficient panretinal photocoagulation pattern laser, excellent documentation, and advanced laser training. This article compares navigated laser systems with available conventional and PASCAL laser systems based on the literature and personal experience of the authors

A preliminary study of Heavy Brilliant Blue G for internal limiting membrane staining in macular hole surgery.

Context: Surgical outcomes of vitrectomy for idiopathic macular hole using a “heavy” Brilliant Blue G (HBBG) solution for staining and removal of the internal limiting membrane (ILM). Settings and Design: Prospective interventional case series conducted in a tertiary eye care hospital. Materials and Methods: Nineteen patients (20 eyes) with idiopathic macular hole were enrolled to undergo vitrectomy with ILM peeling using HBBG. BBG dye was made heavy by mixing with 10% dextrose normal saline (DNS) solution in 2:1 ratio. The adequacy of ILM staining was noted intraoperatively. The closure rates of macular hole and visual improvement were recorded. Patients were followed up postoperatively on day 1, week 1, and subsequently at 1, 3, and 6 months, and every 6th month thereafter. Statistical Analysis: Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used; P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Preoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) ranged from 20/1000 to 20/63 (median: 20/100). Intraoperatively, the ILM stained very well in all eyes, and was easily removed. All macular holes closed postoperatively. The mean follow-up was 6.15 ± 2 months (range: 4-10; median: 6 months). Final BCVA ranged from 20/20 to 20/80 (median: 20/40), amounting to a significant visual improvement (P = 0.0001). BCVA improved by 1-8 Snellen lines in 19 eyes (95%); 16 eyes (80%) improved by ≥2 lines; 13 eyes (65%) achieved a final BCVA of 20/40 or better. Conclusions: Addition of 10% DNS to BBG dye allowed good ILM staining with less dye during macular hole surgery, and provided excellent anatomic and visual outcomes.

A study on the incidence, microbiological analysis and investigations on the source of infection of postoperative infectious endophthalmitis in a tertiary care ophthalmic hospital: An 8-year study.

Background: The objective of the study was the determination of the incidence of culture-proven postoperative endophthalmitis and probable sources of infection. Materials and Methods: It was a prospective study on the microbiology, incidence and probable sources of infection in patients with postoperative infectious endophthalmitis carried out in a tertiary care eye hospital. Consecutive patients diagnosed with postoperative infectious endophthalmitis during the years 2000-2007 were investigated for the causative infective agent and possible sources of infection. The surgical data and microbiological data including the investigations performed to trace the source were recorded in a specific formatted form and were gathered and compiled for analysis. Results: Data of analysis showed that 98 (0.042%) out of 2,31,259 patients who underwent intra-ocular surgery developed infectious endophthalmitis. Among these, 70 (0.053%) occurred after cataract, 10 (0.5%) after penetrating keratoplasty (PK) and 18 (0.018%) following other types of intra-ocular surgeries. The predominant infectious agents isolated were bacteria (89.7%), with equal proportions of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Polymicrobial infection was noted in four and fungi in seven patients. Occurrence of postoperative endophthalmitis was sporadic and not related to any specific part of period in a year. Sources of infection were donor corneal rim in six post-PK patients and phaco probe in one who had postphacoemulsification endophthalmitis Conclusions: Overall incidence of postoperative endophthalmitis over an 8-year period was quite low. The sources of infection could be established in six post-PK endophthalmitis patients and in a postcataract surgery.

Trasplante de tejido retiniano y de células progenitoras retinianas: una promesa terapéutica para pacientes con enfermedad de la retina / Retinal tissue transplantation and retinal progenitor cells: a therapeutic promise for patients with retinal disease

La retinopatía diabética, la degeneración macular relacionada con la edad y la retinitis pigmentosason las enfermedades retinianas más frecuentes en todo el mundo. A pesar de no contar consuficientes estudios que demuestren resultados funcionales positivos en cuanto a recuperar lafunción visual, el uso de células madre y células progenitoras retinianas y el trasplante de retinafetal parecen bastante promisorios. Hasta el momento no se han podido obtener resultadospositivos sobre la funcionalidad de las células trasplantadas, pero sí se ha demostrado que elprocedimiento para transferir el tejido retiniano es seguro y confiable. Aún no se ha intentadoen seres humanos el trasplante de células progenitoras retinianas, pero dicho trasplante ha dadoresultados satisfactorios en modelos múridos. Los estudios con células progenitoras retinianashan logrado demostrar en modelos múridos que se activan y expresan los fotorreceptores. Existenalgunas barreras de disponibilidad para el uso de células progenitoras retinianas, que se debensuperar con el fin de adelantar estudios que permitan aumentar las posibilidades de integracióny diferenciación de dichas células hacia fotorreceptores.

Retinal tissue transplantation and retinal progenitor cells: A therapeutic promise for patients with retinal diseaseWorldwide, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and retinitis pigmentosahave the highest incidence rate among retinal diseases. Despite the lack of enough trialsdemonstrating positive functional results on eyesight recovery, the use of stem cells, retinalprogenitor cells, and fetal retinal tissue transplantation seem very promising. So far positiveresults on the functionality of the transplanted cells have not been obtained. However, the safetyand reliability of the procedure to transfer retinal tissue have been demonstrated. Transplantationof retinal progenitor cells has not been tried on human beings, but there have been satisfactory results with it in murine models. Trials with retinalprogenitor cells have demonstrated activation andexpression of photoreceptors in murine models. Somebarriers of availability exist for the use of retinalprogenitor cells that must be overcome in order tocarry out studies to increase the possibility of theirintegration and differentiation towards photoreceptors.

Combination 20 and 23-gauge transconjunctival vitrectomy: A new approach.

The advent of smaller gauge instrumentation allows for minimally invasive vitreoretinal surgery (MIVS) as compared to conventional pars plana vitrectomy. Sutureless posterior segment surgery has the advantages of faster wound healing, minimal surgical trauma, decreased convalescence period besides reduced postoperative astigmatism; however, slower gel removal and limited peripheral vitreous dissection are disadvantages with smaller gauge systems. We herein describe a new technique combining 23-gauge and 20-gauge vitrectomy to improve the effectiveness and outcomes of vitreoretinal surgery.

Intraocular tissue migration of silicone oil after silicone oil tamponade: a histopathological study of enucleated silicone oil-filled eyes.

Retrospective clinical and histopathological review of eight silicone oil-filled enucleated eyeballs using light microscopy was carried out in our department of ocular pathology during a period of six years. In all cases, silicone oil vacuoles, both free and incorporated within macrophages were seen in all the retinal layers. Silicone oil vacuoles were seen in the optic nerve, choroid, retinal pigment epithelium, corneal stroma, iris and ciliary body stroma, preretinal and subretinal membranes and retro-corneal membranes. Silicone oil migration could be seen in intraocular tissues as early as two months post surgery. There was no definite histopathological correlation between duration of tamponade and distribution of silicone oil vacuoles. Silicone oil vacuoles were seen in the optic nerve in eyes with neovascular glaucoma. Chronic inflammatory reaction was observed in the retinal tissue in the vicinity of silicone oil vacuoles.

Base eletrônica de dados clínicos e cirúrgicos das doenças da retina e vítreo / Electronic clinical and surgical database of retina and vitreous diseases

OBJETIVOS:A proposta deste trabalho é criar base de dados clínicos e cirúrgicos informatizada, usando programa de computador (software), no qual pacientes com 19 doenças selecionadas da retina e vítreo possam ser incluídos. MÉTODOS: Foram selecionados os principais livros-texto da especialidade para que servissem de base estrutural do protocolo. Utilizou-se também artigos retirados de revistas e de bases de dados ligados à rede internacional de computadores (Internet). A informatização dos dados foi realizada através da interface do programa SINPE© (Sistema integrado de protocolos eletrônicos), desenvolvido no Laboratório de Informática e Multimídia do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Clínica Cirúrgica do Setor de Ciências da Saúde da Universidade Federal do Paraná. RESULTADOS: Com a informatização dos dados, criou-se o protocolo mestre, o qual abrange todo o conteúdo em pastas principais, seguido de 19 protocolos específicos originados do mestre e referentes às doenças com dados individualizados de cada uma. O programa, permite coleta de dados de pacientes com suas características clínicas, exames complementares, tratamento realizado e seguimento pós-tratamento. Qualquer fonte de interesse dentro do protocolo pode ser cruzada de acordo com o tipo de estudo desejado. CONCLUSÕES: Os objetivos deste trabalho que eram criar estrutura de informação abrangente e atualizada de doenças vitreorretinianas de interesse, adaptando estes dados a um programa computadorizado (software) específico e incorporar este dispositivo no SINPE© foram atingidos.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to build an automated clinical and surgical database which works with a computer-based program (software), where patients with 19 selected retina and vitreous diseases are included. METHODS: Textbooks from both international and national authors served as a basic structure for the protocol. Specific articles related to each disease, extracted from scientific journals and from specific clinical database sources, searched on the World Wide Web (the internet) were used, as well. Data automation was done by interface with SINPE© (Integrated electronic protocol system) - a software developed at the Informatics and Multimedia Laboratory of the Health Sciences Department at the Universidade Federal do Paraná. RESULTS: Along with the data automation the master protocol was created covering all contents in main folders, followed by 19 specific protocols which refer to individual specifications for each disease. The program allows to collect and record data from patients with their clinical characteristics, diagnostic aids, selected treatment as well as follow-up treatment. Likewise, any source of interest in the protocol can be crossed with the Microsoft Excel® program depending on the type of study. CONCLUSIONS: The objective of this study which was to create a wide and updated database of vitreoretinal pathologies of major importance, converting them to a specific software and interfacing it with the SINPE© has been achieved.

Estudo da síndrome de tração macular vítreo-retiniana idiopática por meio da tomografia de coerência óptica: relato de casos / A study of idiophatic vitreomacular traction syndrome with optical coherence tomography images: cases report

OBJETIVOS: Avaliar alterações estruturais observadas na síndrome de tração macular vítreo-retiniana idiopática (STMI) pela tomografia de coerência óptica (OCT), antes e depois da vitrectomia; identificar situações em que a tomografia de coerência óptica fornece informações adicionais da morfologia e patogênese desta doença. MÉTODOS: Imagens tomográficas (OCT Stratus) comparativas da estrutura vítreo-retiniana foram realizadas em quatro pacientes, em estágios variados da síndrome de tração macular vítreo-retiniana idiopática. RESULTADOS: A tomografia de coerência óptica Stratus apresenta imagens vítreo-retinianas que auxiliam na conduta e tratamento da síndrome de tração macular vítreo-retiniana idiopatica. CONCLUSÃO: O exame da tomografia de coerência óptica permite boa visualização da arquitetura morfológica do vítreo e da retina na síndrome de tração macular vítreo-retiniana idiopática. Este exame nos auxilia na compreensão da patogênese, no planejamento do tratamento, clínico ou cirúrgico, e na avaliação pós-operatória das alterações estruturais retinianas.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the features of idiophatic vitreomacular traction syndrome (VMT) with ocular coherence tomography (OCT - Stratus), before and after vitrectomy; to identify situations where ocular coherence tomography provides additional information on disease morphology and pathogenesis. METHODS: Comparative retinal ocular coherence tomography imaging was performed in four patients with different stages of vitreomacular traction syndrome. RESULTS: Standard-resolution ocular coherence tomography Stratus provides vitreous-retinal images that help the management and treatment of vitreomacular traction syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Standard-resolution ocular coherence tomography allows good visualization of the architectural morphology of the vitreous and retina in vitreomacular traction syndrome. It helps understanding its pathogenesis, planning its treatment, clinical or surgical, and evaluating retinal structural alterations after surgery.

The Results of B-scan Ultrasonography in Different Positions after Vitrectomy and Gas Tamponade

PURPOSE: To determine the proper time frame in which to assess retinal attachment status and to evaluate the superior retinal attachment status by performing B-scan ultrasonography in different positions on patients who have undergone pars plana vitrectomy and gas tamoponade. METHODS: In this prospective study, 23 patients (23 eyes) who had undergone pars plana vitrectomy and gas tamponade were investigated between June 2005 and February 2006. SF6 (18%) was injected into the vitreous cavity of 15 eyes, and C3F8 (14%) was injected into the vitreous cavity of 8 eyes. At postoperative day 1, day 3, week 1, week 2, and week 4, B-scan ultrasonography was performed in the supine, sitting, prone, right decubitus, and left decubitus positions. RESULTS: The proper time to evaluate the retinal attachment status was three days post-operatively in 10 eyes (66.7%) with SF6 (18%) injections and two weeks post-operatively in six eyes (75%) that had C3F8 (14%) injections. The superior retinal attachment status can be evaluated from the summation of B-scan ultrasonography results performed in the right decubitus and left ducubitus positions. CONCLUSIONS: The proper time to evaluate the retinal attachment status was related to the degree of the gas absorption when performing B-scan ultrasonography after pars plana vitrectomy and gas tamponade. To evaluate the entire retina, it is useful to perform B-scan ultrasonograhy in the prone, right decubitus and left decubitus positions.

The Safety and Efficacy of Transconjunctival Sutureless 23-gauge Vitrectomy

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of vitreoretinal surgery using a 23-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy (TSV) system for various vitreoretinal diseases. METHODS: A retrospective, consecutive, interventional case series was performed for 40 eyes of 40 patients. The patients underwent vitreoretinal procedures using the 23-gauge TSV system, including idiopathic epiretinal membrane (n=7), vitreous hemorrhage (n=11), diabetic macular edema (n=10), macular hole (n=5), vitreomacular traction syndrome (n=5), diabetic tractional retinal detachment (n=1), and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (n=1). Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), and intra- and post-operative complications were evaluated. RESULTS: Intraoperative suture placement was necessary in 3 eyes (7.5%). The median BCVA improved from 20/400 (LogMAR, 1.21+/-0.63) to 20/140 (LogMAR, 0.83+/-0.48) at 1 week (p=0.003), 20/100 (LogMAR, 0.85+/-0.65) at 1 month (p=0.002), 20/100 (LogMAR, 0.73+/-0.6) at 3 months (p=0.001). In 1 eye, IOP was 5 mmHg at 2 hours and 4 mmHg at 5 hours, but none of the eyes showed hypotony after 1 postoperative day. No serous postoperative complications were observed during a mean follow-up of 8.4+/-3.4 months (range 3-13 months) CONCLUSIONS: The 23-gauge TSV system shows promise as an effective and safe technique for a variety of vitreoretinal procedures. It appears to be a less traumatic, more convenient alternative to 20-gauge vitrectomy in some indications.

Ultrasound biomicroscopy in the comparison of the anterior segment morphometry before and after pars plana vitrectomy

PURPOSE: To determine if pars plana vitrectomy induces long-term changes in the anterior segment anatomy by means of ultrasound biomicroscopy. METHODS: A prospective case series study was undertaken of consecutive patients referred to a tertiary eye care centre for pars plana vitrectomy as the only procedure. Twenty eyes of 20 patients undergoing pars plana vitrectomy alone were studied by ultrasound biomicroscopy. Silicone oil or scleral buckle was not used in any of the included cases. The following morphometric parameters were compared before and after 3 months of surgery: anterior chamber depth, angle-opening distance at 500 æm from the scleral spur, trabecular-ciliary process distance, ciliary body thickness at 1, 2 and 3 millimeters from the scleral spur and measurement of the supraciliary space thickness, when fluid was detected. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found between the preoperative and the postoperative morphometric parameters. CONCLUSION: Uncomplicated pars plana vitrectomy does not induce any long-term change on anterior segment morphometry. Based on these findings, the normal long-term pattern to be expected after pars plana vitrectomy is the conservation of the preoperative morphometry.

OBJETIVOS: O objetivo do presente estudo foi determinar, por meio da biometria ultra-sônica (UBM), se a vitrectomia via "pars plana" pode induzir alterações permanentes na anatomia do segmento anterior. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado estudo prospectivo, analisando-se uma série consecutiva de pacientes, encaminhados para um centro de referência terciário para serem submetidos a vitrectomia via "pars plana" como único procedimento. Vinte olhos de 20 pacientes a serem submetidos a vitrectomia como único procedimento foram estudados pela biomicroscopia ultra-sônica. Oleo de silicone ou introflexão escleral não foram usados em nenhum dos casos incluídos. Os seguintes parâmetros morfométricos foram comparados antes e após 3 meses da cirurgia: profundidade da câmara anterior, abertura do ângulo a 500 æm do esporão escleral, distância trabéculo-processos ciliares, espessura do corpo ciliar a 1, 2 e 3 milímetros do esporão escleral e medida da espessura do espaço supraciliar, quando fluido foi detectado. RESULTADOS: Não foram encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os períodos pré e pós-operatório para os parâmetros morfométricos estudados. CONCLUSÃO: A vitrectomia via "pars plana" não-complicada não induz alterações permanentes na morfometria do segmento anterior. Com base nestes achados, o padrão normal esperado após a vitrectomia via "pars plana" é a conservação da morfometria pré-operatória.

Extração do cristalino translúcido: resultados visuais e freqüência de vítreo-retinopatias / Clear lens extraction: visual outcomes and vitreoretinopathy frequence

OBJETIVO: Avaliar os resultados visuais e a freqüência de vítreo-retinopatias e descolamento de retina em pacientes, com e sem fotocoagulação profilática pré-operatória da retina pré-equatorial, submetidos à extração de cristalino translúcido (ECT) para correção de miopia. MÉTODOS: Trinta e cinco pacientes (60 olhos) foram submetidos à extração de cristalino translúcido na Fundação Altino Ventura com tempo mediano de acompanhamento de 20,5 meses, sendo divididos em 3 grupos: Grupo I (22 olhos) submetidos à fotocoagulação da retina periférica 360° pré-operatória; Grupo II (8 olhos) submetidos à fotocoagulação pré-operatória circundando lesões predisponentes e Grupo III (30 olhos) não submetidos à fotocoagulação pré-operatória. Foram avaliados a acuidade visual corrigida (AVL c/c), o equivalente esférico refracional (EE) e a presença de membrana neovascular sub-retiniana (MNVSR), lesões predisponentes e descolamento de retina (DR) pré e pós-operatórios. RESULTADOS: O valor mediano da acuidade visual corrigida AVLc/c melhorou de 0,2 no pré-operatório para 0,5 no pós-operatório e o equivalente esférico refracional EE de -17DE para -1,7DE. Não houve casos de descolamento de retina, mas surgiram áreas de tração vítreo-retiniana em 4 olhos (2 submetidos ao laser 360° e 2 olhos não submetidos ao laser) e 1 caso de membrana neovascular sub-retiniana. CONCLUSÃO: A extração de cristalino translúcido mostrou-se cirurgia eficaz e previsível nas reduções de altas miopias e, ainda, procedimento aparentemente seguro em pacientes com e sem fotocoagulação profilática da retina pré-equatorial. Tempo de acompanhamento maior dos pacientes e o aumento da amostra estudada podem ratificar sua segurança como procedimento refrativo.

PURPOSE: To evaluate visual results and vitreoretinopathy and retinal detachment frequencies in patients with and without prophylactic pre-equatorial retinal photocoagulation, who underwent clear lens extraction (CLE) to correct myopia. METHODS: Thirty-five patients (60 eyes) that underwent clear lens extraction at the "Fundação Altino Ventura" had median follow-up of 20.5 months. They were classified into 3 groups: Group I that was submitted to preoperative 360° preequatorial retinal photocoagulation; Group II that was submitted to prophylactic photocoagulation around predisposing lesions; and Group III that was not submitted to preoperative retinal photocoagulation. The presence of corrected visual acuity (CVA), refractional spherical equivalent (RSE) and choroidal neovascularization (CNV), predisposing lesions and retinal detachment (RD) was evaluated. RESULTS: Median corrected visual acuity value rose from 0.2 in the preoperative period to 0.5 in the postoperative period and refractional spherical equivalent decreased from -17SD to -1.7SD. There was no retinal detachment, but vitreous retinal traction areas appeared in 4 eyes (2 submitted to 360° laser and 2 not submitted to laser) and 1 case of choroidal neovascularization also occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Clear lens extraction was an effective and predictable surgery to reduce myopias and an apparently safe procedure in patients with and without prophylactic preequatorial retinal photocoagulation. A longer follow-up in a larger group may validate its safety as a refractive surgery.