Background: The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between the cause of lens dislocation and visual outcomes with complications in patients undergoing trans pars plana vitrectomy (TPPV) and trans pars plana lensectomy (TPPL) for lens dislocation.
Methods: This retrospective study was carried out from July 1995 through November 2003. After excluding patients with previous retinal detachment or combing lens dislocation and post-TPPV/TPPL follow-up intervals of less than 6 months, 36 eyes from 36 patients who had undergone vitrectomy and lensectomy for lens subluxation or dislocation due to trauma or intraocular surgery were examined. Their presenting features and complications were recorded. The relationship between the cause of lens dislocation and visual outcome with complications was tested using Fisher's exact test.
Results: The cause of lens dislocation included blunt and penetrating eye trauma, and intraocular surgery. Final best-corrected visual acuity was 20/40 or better in 45% of eyes in the traumatic arm and in 31% of eyes in the iatrogenic arm. Visual acuity improved after TPPV/TPPL in 90% of the eyes in the traumatic arm and in 81% of the eyes in the iatrogenic arm. Of all of the eyes, 39% had significant complications affecting postoperative visual outcomes, including retinal detachment, cystoid macular edema, vitreous hemorrhage and glaucoma.
Conclusions: There were no significant differences in visual outcomes and complications between the traumatic and iatrogenic arms of the study. Therefore, the cause of lens dislocation was not a predictor of visual outcomes. Nonetheless, posterior segment complications including retinal detachment and glaucoma were major causes of poor postoperative visual outcomes.