Lensectomy-vitrectomy indications and techniques in cataract surgery

Lensectomy-vitrectomy is the removal of the crystalline lens through a transscleral retrociliary incision (usually the pars plana) under clinical conditions in which the vitreous gel has to be partially or totally removed. It was designed in the early 1970s at the onset of modern vitreous surgery. The vitreous cutter was used to remove the lens and the vitreous (lensectomy as vitrectomy). With the development of small incision cataract surgery, foldable IOL, the term lensectomy-vitrectomy also applies to separate incisions in one procedure combining lens and vitreous surgery. With this in mind, it covers several very different situations from neonatal congenital cataracts to adult or senile-associated diseases. This type of surgery is widely accepted, and the main controversy is about the consequences of neonatal surgery and the age of IOL implantation in uni- or bilateral congenital cataracts. My personal work with laser flare and cellmetry demonstrates that pars plana vitrectomy alone creates very little trauma to the blood-aqueous barrier, as can be checked by the anterior chamber level of proteins (ie, flare). The postoperative flare in pars plana vitrectomy alone is very close to the preoperative level. Therefore, the association of pars plana vitrectomy and lens surgery should not be more traumatizing to the eye than lens surgery alone. This review will first report the consequences of neonatal lensectomy-vitrectomy to the eye. Subsequent indications for surgery and implantation will be discussed as well as special indications and complications in congenital cataracts, dislocated nucleus in cataract operation, cataract and associated vitreoretinal disorders in diabetes, and giant retinal tears and removal of the lens during vitrectomy.