Pars plana vitrectomy in the management of pupillary block glaucoma following irrigation and aspiration.

Pupillary block glaucoma developed in 3 children treated with irrigation and aspiration using the Cavitron phacoemulsification system. One had a congenital cataract, 1 had blunt trauma, and 1 had a penetrating injury. The factors contributing to pupillary block included excessive retained lens material, severe post-traumatic inflammation with synechia formation in 2 cases, and the lack of iridectomy in a case requiring a membrane discission. The pupillary block was successfully treated by pars plana vitrectomy in all cases; however, vision in 1 eye was lost owing to secondary glaucoma resulting from delay in treatment and the development of 360 degrees peripheral anterior synechiae.