Risk factors, complications, and outcomes of phacoemulsification cataract surgery complicated by retained lens fragments in Asian eyes

Abstract

PURPOSE: To study the risk factors, visual outcomes, and sequelae of phacoemulsification surgery complicated by retained lens fragments (RLFs). METHODS: This single-center case–control study enrolled consecutive eyes complicated by RLF and compared them to age- and gender-matched uneventful cataract surgery cases at a tertiary care teaching hospital. Biometric, intraoperative, and postoperative data were collected. The primary outcome measures were risk factors, visual outcomes, and rate of postoperative complications. RESULTS: The study and control groups included 282 and 289 eyes, respectively. The estimated incidence of RLF was 1.47% during the study. We found a statistically higher risk of RLF among diabetics (P < 0.001), those with a history of intravitreal injections (P = 0.001), eyes with dense nuclear sclerosis, anterior capsular cataract (P < 0.001), and posterior polar cataract (P = 0.01). There was a statistically higher risk of RLF in eyes with a higher mean preoperative visual acuity (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution) (P < 0.001) and in cases performed by trainees (P < 0.001). Most eyes in the RLF group (n = 207, 73.4%) retained their preoperative vision or experienced a one-line improvement in visual acuity and 14 eyes (5.3%) experienced more than one-line improvement in vision. CONCLUSION: Although RLFs are rare, they can affect the quality of postoperative vision and outcomes of complicated phacoemulsification surgery.