Vitrectomy-phacoemulsification-vitrectomy for the management of aqueous misdirection syndromes in phakic eyes

Objective: To describe vitrectomy-phacoemulsification-vitrectomy, a sequential 3-step surgical approach, in the management of malignant glaucoma/aqueous misdirection syndromes in phakic eyes. Design: Retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series. Participants: Five eyes (4 angle-closure glaucoma and 1 open-angle glaucoma) of 5 patients with mean age of 66 years (range, 56-78). Four patients presented with aqueous misdirection syndrome and 1 patient presented for cataract extraction, having previously had malignant glaucoma in the fellow eye after phacoemulsification surgery. Intervention: The operation performed had three steps: vitrectomy, phacoemulsification, and vitrectomy. Step 1: Preliminary vitrectomy involved limited core vitrectomy to "debulk" the vitreous and soften the eye. Step 2: Phacoemulsification was performed in a standard manner. Step 3: Residual vitrectomy, zonulohyaloidectomy and peripheral iridectomy (if not already present) were performed to create a free communication between the posterior and anterior segments. Main Outcome Measures: Intraocular pressure, visual acuity, biomicroscopic anterior chamber depth, and complications. Results: The time interval between the onset of malignant glaucoma and surgery ranged from 2 weeks to 3 months. All 4 patients with aqueous misdirection syndrome had relief of the aqueous misdirection postoperatively with anterior chamber deepening. Intraocular pressures on day 1 ranged from 6 to 28 mmHg (mean 15.6, mmHg), and at the last visit ranged from 8 to 30 mmHg (mean, 20.4 mmHg). One eye developed an early choroidal serosanguinous effusion requiring drainage. Conclusions: The vitrectomy-phacoemulsification-vitrectomy approach was effective in this pilot series in the management of aqueous misdirection syndromes and malignant glaucoma in phakic eyes. (c) 2006 by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.