Surgery for post-vitrectomy cataract

Vitrectomy or surgery for removal of vitreous, the substance in the center of the eye, for several conditions can result in formation or acceleration of cataract, specifically nuclear sclerotic cataract (that due to hardening and opacification of the central portion of the lens in the eye). We found no randomized trials evaluating the benefits and/or risks of cataract surgery following vitrectomy. Since cataract surgery may lead to deterioration of vision due to worsening or recurrence of the condition that prompted the vitrectomy, its role in these patients remains uncertain. Future trials should stratify participants by age, the retinal disorder leading to surgery (vitrectomy) and the status of the disease process in the opposite eye. Outcomes relevant to patients such as a gain of 8 or more letters of vision on the ETDRS (Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study) scale, quality of life measures, and important adverse events should be examined both in the short-term (six months after surgery) and in the long-term (one-year to two-years after surgery).