[Simultaneous bilateral cataract surgery with PC IOL implantation]

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate results of simultaneous bilateral extracapsular cataract extraction with PC IOL implantation and to discuss indications for such treatment.

Material and methods: Simultaneous bilateral cataract surgery was performed in 3 patients: 56-year-old woman with Little's syndrome, 75-year-old woman with Parkinson's disease and 29-year-old mentally handicapped man. All patients required general anesthesia because of the general state of health. All patients were treated topically with broad-spectrum antibiotic drops before the surgery. Simultaneous bilateral surgery was performed as two separate operations. After successful completion of surgery of the first eye, the gloves, drapes and gowns were changed and the new set of instruments and irrigation solution was used.

Results: The visual acuity improved in all eyes after surgery, and it was 6/6 in both eyes in patients 1 and 3, whereas it was 6/8 and 6/60 in patient 2, due to glaucomatous optic nerve atrophy. There were no intra- or postoperative complications.

Conclusions: Simultaneous bilateral cataract surgery is a safe procedure if all special conditions are fulfilled. It is specially indicated in patients requiring general anesthesia. Patients are not at risk of the second general anesthesia and achieve earlier visual binocular rehabilitation. Extracapsular cataract extraction with PC IOL implantation was performed in all eyes. The excision of fibrotic anterior lens capsule was necessary before the aspiration of cortical material in 2 eyes with congenital cataracts. The corneal incision and plastic surgery of the iris was done in the eye, which had undergone iridencleisis. In the other eye of the same women cutting and suturing of the iris was performed because of posterior synechiae and very narrow pupil.