SURGICAL AND FUNCTIONAL RESULTS OF 27-GAUGE VITRECTOMY COMBINED WITH COAXIAL 1.8 MM MICROINCISION CATARACT SURGERY: A Consecutive Case Series.

Abstract

To investigate outcomes after coaxial 1.8 mm microincision cataract surgery combined with 27-gauge vitrectomy (MICVIT) in eyes with vitreoretinal disease and age-related cataract. A single-center, retrospective case series study of 62 subjects (62 eyes) with a mean age of 70 years who underwent combined microincision phacoemulsification, intraocular lens implantation, and 27-gauge vitrectomy during the 12-month period to January 2015. Intraoperative and postoperative complications, and visual results were the main outcome measures. The mean follow-up period was 6 months (range 2-10 months). Intraoperative findings were retinal break (9.7%) and one posterior capsule tear (1.6%). No cases required corneal or scleral suture, or conversion to larger-gauge vitrectomy. Postoperative complications consisted of posterior capsule opacification (8%), elevated intraocular pressure >30 mmHg (6.4%), retinal detachment (1.6%), and fibrin reaction (1.6%). There were no cases of hypotony (<9 mmHg), intraocular lens decentration, or postoperative endophthalmitis. Visual acuity improved 3 Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (EDTRS) score lines from 0.48 ± 0.4 logMAR (20/60) preoperatively to 0.17 ± 0.23 logMAR (20/30) at final postoperative visit (P = 0.001). Findings suggest 27-gauge vitrectomy combined with microincision phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation is feasible, safe, and effective as a 1-step surgical procedure for the management of vitreoretinal pathologies and concurrent cataract.