Incidence of lens matter dislocation during phacoemulsification

• Published in: Journal of cataract and refractive surgery Vol. 22; no. 6; pp. 737 - 742
• Main Authors: Pande, Milind, Dabbs, T.R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.07.1996; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Clinical Competence - statistics & numerical data; England - epidemiology; Humans; Incidence; Intraoperative Complications - epidemiology; Intraoperative Complications - etiology; Intraoperative Complications - therapy; Lens Subluxation - epidemiology; Lens Subluxation - etiology; Lens Subluxation - therapy; Medical sciences; Ophthalmology - education; Phacoemulsification - adverse effects; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the eye and orbit; Surveys and Questionnaires; Visual Acuity; England; Human; Eye disease; Cataract; Lens disease; Luxation; Treatment; Surgery; Complication; Lens; Phacoemulsification; Morbidity; Incidence
• ISSN: 0886-3350; 1873-4502
• DOI: 10.1016/S0886-3350(96)80313-0

Purpose: To assess the incidence and visual morbidity of lens matter dislocation during phacoemulsification and the relationship between this complication and surgical experience. Setting: Teaching and district general hospitals. Methods: A multiple-choice questionnaire was sent to members of the Northern and Midlands Ophthalmological Societies. They were asked about the incidence of lens matter dislocation, the visual outcome of the cases, and their surgical experience. Results: Forty-seven of the 177 survey respondents (26.5%) were using phacoemulsification. The incidence of lens matter dislocation was 1.1 %; 49.0% of the surgeons had experienced at least one case. The incidence increased significantly when surgeons assessed their expertise with phacoemulsification toward the expert end of the scale. Final visual acuity was worse than 6/12 in 35.0% of cases. Conclusions: The incidence of lens matter dislocation with phacoemulsification is significant and related to an incorrect assessment of expertise by the surgeons. The considerable visual morbidity associated with this complication can be minimized using the management strategy discussed.