Retinal accidents in pseudophakia--intracapsular vs extracapsular surgery

A follow-up of 120 pseudophakic eyes of 85 patients that underwent surgery for senile cataract showed a definite superiority of extracapsular surgery over intracapsular surgery as far as the longterm fate of the retina concerns. Comparable series have been chosen. Retinal detachment did not occur in extracapsular eyes that never had posterior capsulotomy, and occurred most often after intracapsular surgery. Signs of previous or existing maculopathy were searched for with the usual tests (funduscopy, visual acuity, Amsler test) and moreover with Haidinger's brushes test. The macula turned out to have least suffered after extracapsular surgery without capsulotomy and most after intracapsular surgery. Haidinger's brushes test is a valuable tool for the detection of postoperative macular edema.