Combined pars plana vitrectomy and lens management in complex vitreoretinal disease

Concurrent cataract and vitreoretinal disorders are relatively common. Additionally, a considerable number of phakic eyes develop visually significant cataract following pars plana vitrectomy. The ophthalmic literature is replete with reports of a combined procedure consisting of simultaneous cataract extraction, intraocular lens implantation, and pars plana vitrectomy to treat a wide range of vitreoretinal disorders and co-existing cataracts. Historical concerns of increased risk of complications with the combined procedure have been shown not to be clinically significant. The combined procedure offers the advantages of a single procedure, including faster recovery time and cost effectiveness. Earlier reports of the combined procedure describe pars plana lensectomy and extracapsular cataract extraction as techniques for cataract extraction. Currently, phacoemulsification with implantation of a foldable posterior intraocular lens implantation has become the preferred technique of cataract removal. With advances in instrumentation and surgical techniques, the combined procedure offers a safe and effective way to manage concurrent cataract and complex vitreoretinal disease.