Management of cataract caused by inadvertent capsule penetration during intravitreal injection of ranibizumab

Abstract

We describe an approach to phacoemulsification of complicated cataract with preexisting posterior capsule tear caused by an intravitreal injection. Careful preoperative planning and attention to fluidics, low bottle height, appropriate incisions, careful hydrodelineation without hydrodissection, avoidance of nuclear rotation, and use of a dispersive ophthalmic viscosurgical device to tamponade vitreous allows safe phacoemulsification with secure posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation. Biaxial microincision cataract surgery can achieve efficient removal of the lens matter without rotating the nucleus, reducing the chance of capsule tear extension and loss of nuclear fragments into the posterior pole.