INTRAVITREAL CHOPPING OF DROPPED NUCLEUS WITH A NITINOL INTRAOCULAR FOREIGN BODY FORCEPS: AN ALTERNATIVE TECHNIQUE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF RETAINED NUCLEUS FRAGMENTS.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficiency and safety of using an intraocular foreign body forceps with two nitinol loops at its tip to capture and chop dropped nucleus (DN) during vitrectomy as an alternative method and to evaluate the outcomes and complications of this surgical technique.

METHODS

The eyes that underwent 23-gauge vitrectomy with removal of DN using nitinol forceps with a minimum follow-up time of 1 year are included in this study. The efficiency of surgical technique and anatomical and functional results with complications is recorded.

RESULTS

Nine patients with a mean age of 73.11 ± 2.15 years were included in this study. The mean time between DN and vitrectomy was 7.67 ± 3.74 (5-14) days. In all eyes, DN was easily chopped and removed with aspiration. Argon laser photocoagulation was performed in 4 eyes (44.44%) during surgery. All eyes were followed up for a mean time of 21.11 ± 12.36 (12-48) months. The mean preoperative best-corrected visual acuity increased significantly during the postoperative follow-up ( P < 0.001). No complications related to the cataract surgery or DN removal were observed.

CONCLUSION

Surgical removal of DN with the help of these forceps with nitinol loops is found to be safe and effective in this study. This method avoids ultrasonographic energy and enables 23-gauge vitrectomy without a fragmatome.