Posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation during diabetic pars plana vitrectomy

Combined cataract removal, posterior chamber intraocular lens (PC IOL) implantation, and pars plana vitrectomy were performed in 15 diabetic patients who presented with coexisting cataract and vitreoretinal complications from proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Posterior chamber IOLs were placed anterior to the anterior lens capsule after pars plana lensectomy and vitrectomy in nine eyes, whereas extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) with PC IOL placement was performed before vitrectomy in six eyes. Panretinal laser endophotocoagulation was applied in 13 of the 15 eyes as an important part of the operative procedure. Because of inactive diabetic retinopathy or satisfactory preoperative panretinal photocoagulation, 2 of the 15 eyes did not receive laser endophotocoagulation. Visual acuity was improved in 12 eyes and was similar to preoperative vision in 3 eyes. After a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 28 months of follow-up, the visual results are the following: 20/40 or better (4 eyes), 20/50 to 20/200 (5 eyes), 20/400 to 5/200 (5 eyes), and hand motions (1 eye). Although 5 of the 15 eyes required secondary vitreoretinal procedures, neovascular glaucoma and complications attributable to the IOL did not occur. A recurrent postoperative retinal detachment (RD) developed with subsequent hypotony and rubeosis iridis in 1 of the 15 eyes.