Phacoemulsification and foldable intraocular lens implantation in eyes filled with silicone oil

To evaluate the visual outcome of phacoemulsification and foldable intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in eyes already filled with silicone oil.

Following vitrectomy and silicone oil injection, 16 eyes of 16 consecutive patients undergoing phacoemulsification and IOL implantation were included in the study.

The mean age of patients was 58.3 +/- 9.2 years (range, 38 to 71 years). The time interval between the cataract surgery and silicone oil injection was 5.8 +/- 1.7 months (range, 4 to 9 months). The mean number of previous surgeries was 2.0 +/- 0.8 (range, 1 to 4). Trypan blue (0.4%) was used for anterior capsule staining in 3 eyes with white cataract. Dispersive viscoelastic material was used during all steps of phacoemulsification. A capsular tension ring was inserted after capsulorhexis and hydrodissection in all cases. An IOL with a 6.0-mm optic was implanted in all eyes. The preoperative best-corrected visual acuity ranged from hand motions to 0.3. The mean postoperative best-corrected visual acuity was 0.3 +/- 0.1 (range, 0.1 to 0.6); best-corrected visual acuity increased in all eyes. A small amount of silicone oil moved into the anterior chamber during phacoemulsification in 1 eye and was evacuated. In all eyes, no silicone oil was present in the anterior chamber postoperatively.

The use of dispersive viscoelastic and a capsular tension ring provides safer phacoemulsification and foldable IOL implantation in eyes already filled with silicone oil.