Pars plana vitrectomy in the management of vitreous touch syndrome

The management of three patients with aphakic bullous keratopathy by means of pars plana vitrectomy is described. The patients had previously undergone uneventful intracapsular cataract extraction with intact vitreous face. Eventual herniation of the vitreous into the anterior chamber with resultant corneal endothelial touch caused the corneal edema in all three cases. Pars plana vitrectomy resulted in resolution of photophobia and irritation. The visual acuity improved from 20/200, 20/200 and 20/70 to 20/70, 20/60 and 20/40 respectively. The central cornea was cleared of edema in all three cases. The final vision was limited in two of the patients by the persistence of preoperative cystoid macular edema. Pars plana vitrectomy may be used in the management of selected cases of aphakic bullous keratopathy from vitreous touch.