Materials in the vitreous during cataract surgery: nature and incidence, with two cases of histological confirmation

Incidence and Risk Factors for Berger's Space Development after Uneventful Cataract Surgery: Evidence from Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography

Background: This study investigates the incidence and risk factors for the development of Berger’s space (BS) after uneventful phacoemulsification based on swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). Methods: Cataractous eyes captured using qualified SS-OCT images before and after uneventful phacoemulsification cataract surgery were included. Six high-resolution cross-sectional anterior segment SS-OCT images at 30° intervals were used for BS data measurements. BS width was measured at three points on each scanned meridian line: the central point line aligned with the cornea vertex and two point lines at the pupil’s margins. Results: A total of 223 eyes that underwent uneventful cataract surgery were evaluated. Preoperatively, only two eyes (2/223, 0.9%) were observed to have consistent BS in all six scanning directions. BS was observed postoperatively in 44 eyes (44/223, 19.7%). A total of 13 eyes (13/223, 5.8%) with insufficient image quality, pupil dilation, or lack of preoperative image data were excluded from the study. A total of 31 postoperative eyes with BS and 31 matched eyes without BS were included in the final data analysis. The smallest postoperative BS width was in the upper quadrant of the vertical meridian line (90°), with a mean value of 280 μm. The largest BS width was observed in the opposite area of the main clear corneal incision, with a mean value >500 μm. Conclusions: Uneven-width BS is observable after uneventful phacoemulsification. Locations with a much wider BS (indirect manifestation of Wieger zonular detachment) are predominantly located in the opposite direction to the main corneal incisions.

Anterior chamber depth variability between 2 hydrophobic acrylic 1-piece intraocular lenses: randomized trial

PURPOSE

To analyze the difference in anterior chamber depth (ACD) after uneventful cataract surgery between 2 hydrophobic acrylic 1-piece intraocular lenses (IOLs) with different material properties.

SETTING

Hanusch Hospital, Vienna, Austria.

DESIGN

Single-center, bilateral randomized paired-eye controlled study.

METHODS

Patients scheduled for bilateral cataract surgery were randomized to receive the Clareon IOL in 1 eye and the AcrySof IQ IOL (both Alcon Laboratories, Inc.) in the contralateral eye. Preoperatively, a slitlamp examination, optical biometry (IOLMaster 700, Carl Zeiss Meditec AG), refraction, and visual acuity measurements were performed. ACD was assessed 1 hour and 1 week postoperatively and with additional measurement of uncorrected (UDVA) and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) 6 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

80 eyes of 40 patients were analyzed in this study. ACD at the 6-month follow-up was 3.94 ± 0.30 mm for the Clareon IOL and 3.91 ± 0.32 mm for the AcrySof IQ IOL (P = .08). Statistically significant differences in the ACD shift between both IOLs were detected between 1 week and 6 months (P = .04) and 1 hour and 6 months (P = .04). There were no statistically significant differences between both IOLs in UDVA (P = .78), CDVA (P = .59), and spherical equivalent (SE, P = .39) at the 6-month visit. The mean absolute error between the measured and the aimed SE was not significant (P = .97).

CONCLUSIONS

There was no clinically relevant difference in ACD between the Clareon IOL and the AcrySof IQ IOL in patients after uneventful cataract surgery. Both IOLs yielded good refraction and visual acuity outcomes.

Three Cases of Intraoperative Acute Fluid Misdirection Syndrome during Cataract Surgery

Purpose: We report the management of three cases of intraoperative acute fluid misdirection syndrome during cataract surgery.Case summary: Cataract surgery was performed in one eye of an 82-year-old woman with pseudoexfoliation syndrome, one eye of an 80-year-old man with end-stage glaucoma, and both eyes of a 72-year-old man with pseudoexfoliation syndrome. In the first two cases, the capsular bag space decreased during cortex aspiration and after removal of the cortex, respectively. After intravenous mannitol and intake of oral acetazolamide, the intraocular lens was successfully inserted in the first two cases on the same day. In the third case, after first removing the nucleus and cortex of the right eye, the capsular bag space decreased and an intraocular lens was carefully inserted. No intraoperative complications were seen during the left eye operation. One month after the operation, the best-corrected visual acuity had improved and the intraocular pressure was within normal limits for all three cases.Conclusions: A relatively shallow chamber, pseudoexfoliation, zonular laxity, and use of high molecular weight ophthalmic viscosurgical devices may cause acute fluid misdirection syndrome during cataract surgery. Pars plana vitrectomy may be required. However, intravenous high osmotic agent treatment should be attempted first, followed by intraocular lens insertion on the same day.

Successful surgical management of interlenticular membrane by vitreoretinal interlenticular membranectomy (VIM)

The formation of a light scattering interlenticular membrane (ILM) is a known complication of polypseudophakia and has been particularly noted with the use of dual intracapsular Alcon AcrylSof intraocular lenses (IOLs). The treatment options for this condition have largely been restricted to either Nd:YAG laser membranotomy or explantation of the dual IOL complex. In this case report, we describe an unusual case of ILM in a 76-year-old woman whose ILM had formed between her primary intracapsular IOL and her piggyback sulcal IOL. Furthermore, we describe vitreoretinal interlenticular membranectomy (VIM), a novel technique involving a translimbal anterior interlenticular membranectomy using vitreoretinal instrumentation. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. Postoperative best-corrected visual acuity was 6/4, maintained for 3 years of follow-up. VIM is offered as a management option for surgeons to address ILM when Nd:YAG laser therapy fails, and the IOLs cannot be safely explanted.

Intraoperative optical coherence tomography measurements of aphakic eyes to predict postoperative position of 2 intraocular lens designs

PURPOSE

To evaluate intraoperative anterior chamber depth (ACD) measurements of the aphakic eye to predict the postoperative ACD and compare 2 intraocular lens (IOL) designs.

SETTING

Hanusch Hospital, Vienna, Austria.

DESIGN

Prospective study.

METHODS

In this prospective study, patients scheduled for cataract surgery received a plate-haptic IOL (Asphina, Carl Zeiss Meditec AG) or an open-loop haptic IOL (ZCB00, Johnson & Johnson). Preoperatively, optical biometry (IOLMaster 700, CZM, or Lenstar, Haag-Streit) was performed. Intraoperatively, a prototype setup was used to perform time-domain OCT scans of the anterior eye segment (Visante connected to OPMI Lumera 200, both CZM). The intraoperative ACD was measured and used to predict the postoperative IOL position. Optical biometry and subjective refraction and autorefraction (RM 8800, Topcon) were performed 2 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

The study comprised 203 eyes of 203 patients. A partial least-square regression model for ACD generated 2 months postoperatively showed that the predictive power of the intraoperative ACD (0.48) was highest followed by the axial eye length (0.45) and then the preoperatively measured ACD (0.30). These findings were confirmed in a bootstrapping model. Regression models combining the preoperative ACD and intraoperative ACD resulted in further significant improvement.

CONCLUSIONS

Intraoperative ACD measurements predicted the postoperative position of open-loop IOLs and plate-haptic IOLs better than preoperative ACD measurements. Combining preoperative and intraoperative ACD measurements further improved the prediction.