Intraoperative Posterior Chamber Irrigation to Enhance Vitreous Cavity Support during Phacoemulsification Cataract Surgery after Vitrectomy

Figure 3

Photographs of the posterior chamber irrigation technique prior to capsulorhexis in postvitrectomy phacoemulsification cataract surgery (patient 7). (a) The vitrectomized eye showed a low vitreous support with posterior retropulsion of iris-lens diaphragm after viscoelastic tamponade in anterior chamber. Capsulorhexis was difficult. (b) The vitreous cavity was irrigated via a 26-gauge flushing cannula injecting balanced salt solution under the iris root. (c) The vitreous cavity pressure surmounted the anterior chamber pressure and viscoelastic flowed out from the main corneal incision. (d) Capsulorhexis was performed smoothly. (e) At the entry of phaco probe, anterior chamber depth remained stable. (f) The anterior chamber was still stabilized throughout the I/A step.

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