Post Vitrectomy Cataract Surgery with Capsular Tear

Dr. Arup Chakrabarti presents a complicated case of cataract surgery in a 68-year-old patient whose preexisting intumescent cataract rapidly progressed following pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil injection for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. During the expansion of a 2-stage rhexis, an inadvertent capsular cut extended to the periphery. The planned nucleus disassembly was abandoned due to unexpected firmness and intraoperative iris prolapse. To further complicate matters, a superotemporal posterior capsule tear was then noted after phacoemulsification. Fortunately, the tear did not expand and there was no loss of silicone oil.