Comparison of intra- and postoperative complications of phaco between sequential and combined procedures of 23-gauge vitrectomy and phaco.

Purpose: To evaluate the intra- and postoperative complications of phacoemulsification in sequential and combined procedures of 23-gauge vitrectomy and cataract surgery.
Methods: The medical records of 376 patients who underwent phacoemulsification in a vitrectomized eye (sequential group) and 458 patients who underwent combined vitrectomy and phacoemulsification (combined group) were retrospectively reviewed. Main outcome measures were intra- and postoperative complications of phacoemulsification surgery. Surgical indications were a progressed cataract with various retinal conditions.
Results: The most common intraoperative complication during phacoemulsification was posterior capsule rupture in both groups. The rate of this complication was higher in the sequential group (18 eyes, 4.8%) than in the combined group (7 eyes, 1.5%) ( p  = 0.006). The most common early postoperative complication was transient high intraocular pressure (68 eyes, 14.8%) and late postoperative complication was pupillary in the synechia combined group (82 eyes, 17.9%). The most common early postoperative complication was transient high intraocular pressure (29 eyes, 7.7%) and late postoperative complication was posterior capsule opacification (27 eyes, 7.2%) in the sequential group. Fibrinous exudation occurred more in the combined group (57 eyes, 12.4%) than in the sequential group (19 eyes, 5.1%) ( p  = 0.000).
Conclusion: Both sequential and combined cataract surgeries seemed to be safe. Combined surgery could be preferred in harder cataracts and zonular dehiscence.