Closed Vitreous Surgery for Complications of Intraocular Lens Implantation I. Indications

Abstract

Modern closed vitrectomy techniques have provided a means of managing complications of cataract surgery in ways which are far superior to those which were popular prior to the revolutionary work of Machemer (1). The advantages of these techniques include the precise control of tissue excision (using microscopic visualization, efficient cutters, and optimal illumination), the maintenance of normal globe configuration, and the ability to perform a variety of accessory techniques, such as intraocular diathermy, scissors excision, and fragmentation. Complications of intraocular lens implantation can arbitrarily be divided into anterior and posterior indications for subsequent vitreous surgery (Tables 1 and 2). The goals of vitreous surgery in this setting include the removal of opaque or otherwise abnormal tissue, the elimination of certain traction forces, and the reduction of inflammation.