Removal of dislocated intravitreal lens nucleus and lens fragments

Forty-four eyes of 43 patients with retained intravitreal entire lens, lens nucleus and lens fragments were analysed. The causes of lens dislocation were post couching, following phacoemulsification, trauma and Mafan's syndrome. Sixteen eyes (36%) with small lens fragments required only pars plana vitrectomy for surgical removal. The entire lens, lens nucleus or large lens fragments in 28 eyes (64%) were removed by a standard three-port pars plana vitrectomy, lifting the lens into the anterior chamber by vitrectomy probe under high vacuum suction and then delivered through a limbal incision. All cases were successfully removed and most of the visual outcome was better than the preoperative check up. The technique of lifting the lens into the anterior chamber is simple and safe.