[Vitreous luxated PC-IOLs: complications]

To determine pre-, intra- and postoperative complications of posterior chamber intraocular lenses (PC-IOL) posteriorly luxated in the vitreous.

We retrospectively reviewed reports of all patients with luxated PC-IOLs at our institution (1989-1999) with a minimum follow-up of 6 months. We identified 41 eyes; 4 were excluded because of short follow-up. Thirty-seven eyes were finally considered. Twenty-one eyes had "in situ" repositioning with vitrectomy, in 9 of them perfluorocarbon liquids (Perfluoro-DK-line) (PFCL) were used to refloat the luxated lenses. Sixteen eyes had IOL exchange, in 7 of them PFCL was used to refloat the IOL.

The average age of the patients was 67.5 years. Preoperatively, 15 eyes (40%) had ocular hypertension, 9 eyes (24%) showed epithelial corneal edema (CE), 6 eyes (16%) had light vitreous hemorrhage (VH) and 4 eyes (11%) retinal detachment (RD). Intraoperatively, 9 eyes (24%) had VH related to sulcus fixation. Postoperatively, visual acuity improved in 32 (86%) eyes. In 3 cases (8%) we found a postsurgical RD that could be iatrogenic; one eye developed glaucoma and 1 developed, epiretinal membrane. Two patients were PFCL drops.

Vitrectomy normalizes IOP and CE, PFCL simplifies the surgical technique for RD, and sulcus fixated IOL allows visual restoration. The combined technique generally offers good results.