Abstract
Purpose: To assess preliminarily the efficacy and safety of a relatively new surgical modification of phacovitrectomy in eyes with cataract and visually significant asteroid hyalosis (AH). Materials and methods: Prospective, noncomparative, interventional case series of six eyes of six patients (mean age 75.6 years; 1 woman, 5 men) with cataract and visually significant AH treated with a novel surgical technique—a phacoemulsification with anterior vitrectomy through posterior capsulorhexis and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. Main outcome measures were: best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), IOL centration, complications. Mean follow-up was 39.17 ± 4.31 months. Results: The mean BCVA (Snellen) improved from 0.26 ± 0.18 to 0.73 ± 0.33 at the end of the follow-up. IOP was in the normal range, and no problems with IOL fixation were observed at the end of the follow-up. No post-operative complications, retinal detachment, retinal tears, macular edema or prolonged inflammation were observed. Conclusions: The presented new surgical technique seems to be a safe and efficacious method to treat cataract with visually significant asteroid hyalosis.
Highlights
Asteroid hyalosis (AH), first described by Benson in 1894, is a degenerative condition in which small yellow–white plaques called asteroid bodies (ABs) are suspended in the vitreous body, moving along with the movements of the eye or head [1]
The aim of the present study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the surgical technique that consists of phacoemulsification followed by an anterior vitrectomy performed through a posterior capsulorhexis
Most AH cases are asymptomatic with unaffected vision even in severe conditions with dense opacities, which make fundus examination difficult or impossible
Summary
Asteroid hyalosis (AH), first described by Benson in 1894, is a degenerative condition in which small yellow–white plaques called asteroid bodies (ABs) are suspended in the vitreous body, moving along with the movements of the eye or head [1]. This rare condition affects 0.8% to 1.2% of the population [2,3] and is primarily associated with aging. We present a relatively new method combining cataract surgery and a removal of a significant bulk of ABs from the visual axis. This approach is fast, simple and may be performed simultaneously with cataract surgery by an anterior segment surgeon
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