Changes in Anterior Chamber Depth after Combined Phacovitrectomy

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Surgical Outcomes
• Refractive Surgery

Background:

• Combined phacovitrectomy is a surgical technique addressing both cataract and vitreoretinal issues.
• Accurate prediction of refractive outcomes is essential for patient satisfaction and visual function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare anterior chamber depth (ACD) and refractive outcomes after combined phacovitrectomy versus phacoemulsification.
• To assess the impact of combined phacovitrectomy on visual acuity and refractive error.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving 10 eyes undergoing combined phacovitrectomy and 14 eyes undergoing phacoemulsification.
• Preoperative and 3-month postoperative measurements of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and ACD were analyzed.

Main Results:

• No significant difference was observed in preoperative ACD, postoperative ACD, or change in ACD between the groups.
• Postoperative refractive outcomes differed significantly, with mean outcomes of +0.22 D for phacovitrectomy and -0.39 D for phacoemulsification (p=0.019).
• BCVA improved in both surgical groups (p=0.001).

Conclusions:

• Combined phacovitrectomy leads to distinct postoperative refractive outcomes compared to phacoemulsification alone.
• Preoperative intraocular lens power calculation requires careful consideration for combined phacovitrectomy to achieve target refraction.