Purpose

Estimation of long-term results and complications of complex surgical technique, used for the management of luxated crystalline lenses.

Material and methods

This prospective study involved 29 consecutive patients (31eyes) with the mean age of 62 years. The applied surgical technique comprised pars plana vitrectomy, perfluorocarbon liquid injection and crystalline lens phacofragmentation in the vitreous cavity. Simultaneously, anterior chamber intraocular lenses (IOLs) were implanted in 13 eyes, and scleralfixated, posterior chamber IOLs in 17 eyes. In one patient with high myopy the lens was not implanted. The follow-up ranged between 9 and 38 months (mean 22.8 months).

Results

No complications were observed during phacofragmentation. Improvement in visual acuity was achieved in 18 cases one week after operation and in 23 patients at last examination. We achieved visual acuity of 4/50 – hand movements in 4 cases, 5/16–5/50 in 3 eyes, 5/8–5/12 in 7 and 5/5–5/7 in 17 cases, in last examination. There were no intra-operative complications. Low visual acuity in some cases was due to the presence of postoperative complications or coexisting eye diseases, such as secondary glaucoma, atonic pupil, age related macular degeneration, retinal detachment and macular hole.

Conclusions

Phacofragmentation with perfluorocarbon liquid and IOL implantation for the management of luxated crystalline lenses is safe and effective method, providing very good long-term functional results.