Sutureless limited vitrectomy for positive vitreous pressure in cataract surgery

A sutureless transconjunctival pars plana vitrectomy with the 25-gauge transconjunctival vitrectomy system is used to facilitate phacoemulsification in eyes with positive posterior vitreous pressure and shallow anterior chamber. Peribulbar local anesthesia is administered. In eyes with shallow anterior chamber, if an injection of a viscoelastic substance through anterior chamber paracentesis fails to deepen the anterior chamber, a limited pars plana vitrectomy is performed to remove a small amount of retro-lental vitreous (approximately 0.2 to 0.3 cc) with a 25-gauge high-speed cutter. Phacoemulsification is subsequently performed. The limited pars plana vitrectomy reduces the chances of intraoperative vitreous loss and suprachoroidal hemorrhage. It also increases the anterior chamber depth, facilitates intraoperative steps such as pupil stretching and capsulorhexis, and results in a phacoemulsification procedure that is less complex and safer.