Phakectomy with shallow anterior vitrectomy in congenital and juvenile cataracts

Longer follow-up studies available to date on the phakectomy technique combined with a planned shallow anterior vitrectomy for the removal of congenital or juvenile cataract reveal the method to be justified. The morbidity of multiple reoperations for residual after-cataract membrane has been significantly reduced (6 of 163 eyes or 3.6%). Only two retinal detachments (1.2%) have occurred; both were successfully attached. The visual status has been improved both quantitatively (visual acuity) and most importantly qualitatively (brighter images, wider field of view, and enhanced vision under poorly lighted conditions). No eyes have been made worse.