Anterior vitreous detachment: risk factor for intraoperative complications during phacoemulsification.

Purpose: To confirm the presence of incomplete vitreolenticular adhesion via microscope-integrated intraoperative optical coherence tomography (iOCT) during cataract surgery and via diagnostic spectral-domain OCT (SD-OCT) postoperatively.
Setting: S. Fyodorov Eye Microsurgery Complex State Institution, Moscow, Russia.
Design: Prospective noninterventional single-center study.
Methods: Clinical characteristics and surgical videos of 27 patients (28 eyes) who had cataract surgery were documented. Real-time iOCT integrated into the surgical microscope was directed to view the retrolenticular anatomy at the end of the surgery. Postoperatively, SD-OCT was also performed.
Results: This study comprised 28 eyes of 27 patients. Berger space was identified in 21 cases (75%) intraoperatively via iOCT and in 23 cases (82%) postoperatively via stationary OCT. Depth dimensions varied from 33.5 ± 87.0 μm to 383.1 ± 226.3 μm. Hyperreflective dots and particles of different shapes and sizes were documented within Berger space in 16 cases (57%) intraoperatively and in 9 cases (32%) postoperatively. Capsular rupture occurred in 1 case due to excessive posterior capsular movement anteriorly. The posterior capsular rupture was converted into a posterior capsulorhexis, leaving the anterior hyaloid membrane intact.
Conclusions: iOCT confirmed the penetration of crystalline lens microfragments, cellular material, or medical suspension (triamcinolone) into the space between the posterior lens capsule and the anterior hyaloid membrane. This occurs due to discontinuity of both lenticular zonules and Wieger ligament attachment. A Wieger ligament rupture can also allow excessive Berger space hydration during phacoemulsification leading to anterior displacement of the posterior lens capsule increasing the risk of instrument touch and posterior capsule rupture.