Phacoemulsification and foldable intraocular lens implantation in eyes filled with silicone oil

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the visual outcome of phacoemulsification and foldable intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in eyes already filled with silicone oil. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Following vitrectomy and silicone oil injection, 16 eyes of 16 consecutive patients undergoing phacoemulsification and IOL implantation were included in the study. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 58.3 +/- 9.2 years (range, 38 to 71 years). The time interval between the cataract surgery and silicone oil injection was 5.8 +/- 1.7 months (range, 4 to 9 months). The mean number of previous surgeries was 2.0 +/- 0.8 (range, 1 to 4). Trypan blue (0.4%) was used for anterior capsule staining in 3 eyes with white cataract. Dispersive viscoelastic material was used during all steps of phacoemulsification. A capsular tension ring was inserted after capsulorhexis and hydrodissection in all cases. An IOL with a 6.0-mm optic was implanted in all eyes. The preoperative best-corrected visual acuity ranged from hand motions to 0.3. The mean postoperative best-corrected visual acuity was 0.3 +/- 0.1 (range, 0.1 to 0.6); best-corrected visual acuity increased in all eyes. A small amount of silicone oil moved into the anterior chamber during phacoemulsification in 1 eye and was evacuated. In all eyes, no silicone oil was present in the anterior chamber postoperatively. CONCLUSION: The use of dispersive viscoelastic and a capsular tension ring provides safer phacoemulsification and foldable IOL implantation in eyes already filled with silicone oil.