Results of Triple Surgery: Cataract Extraction, Intraocular Lens Implantation and Vitrectomy for Retinal Detachment

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To report the anatomic and visual results of triple surgery in patients with cataract and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. METHODS: This retrospective study examined 11 cases of phakic detachment. All 11 eyes had both rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and cataract. For these, a triple procedure involving pars plana vitrectomy, cataract surgery and posterior chamber intraocular lens (PCL) insertion was performed. Intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation was performed in the diseased or both eyes. RESULTS: A clear intraoperative view of the fundus was obtained in all cases. The retina was reattached by triple surgery in 9 eyes. In one failed case, there had been extensive detachment with preoperative proliferative vitreoretinopathy grade C type 1. In the other case, retinal detachment recurred due to a new break. The two failed eyes obtained anatomic success by reoperation. Preoperative visual acuity (hand movement/10cm to 0.2) was improved (finger count/20cm to 0.8). There were 2 visual imbalances of -8.0 diopter and -10.0 diopter due to miscalculation of IOL power. CONCLUSIONS: In selective cases, combined triple surgery spares the patient repeat surgery and can offer a more rapid visual rehabilitation by clearly identifying the breaks and avoiding delays in detachment repair. To avoid miscalculation, IOL power must be calculated in both eyes, especially in cases of macular detachment.