Oman J Ophthalmol. 2009 Jan-Apr; 2(1): 1518.

doi: 10.4103/0974-620X.48416
PMCID: PMC3018099
Combined scleral buckling and phacoemulsification
Pukhraj Rishi, Tarun Sharma, Ekta Rishi, and Soumendra P. Chaudhary
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Abstract
Aims:
To analyze the outcome of combined scleral buckling and phacoemulsification for primary
rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and visually significant cataract.
Settings and Design:
Retrospective, interventional case series.
Materials and Methods:
Retrospective review of patients with primary rhegmatogenous detachment with or without
proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) changes and visually significant cataract who underwent
combined scleral buckling and phacoemulsification with or without intraocular lens (IOL)
implantation between 1991 and 2006. Of the ten eyes, all underwent phacoemulsification and
five eyes had posterior chamber Intraocular lens (PC IOL) implantation. All eyes underwent
scleral buckling with solid silicone explant combined with #240 encircling band. Subretinal fluid
(SRF) drainage was done in five eyes
Results:
Four eyes improved to better than 6/12 at a mean follow-up of 9 months. Anatomical success
was achieved in all eyes (100%).
Conclusion:
Combined scleral buckling and phacoemulsification is a safe and effective procedure that spares
the patient the burden of repeated surgeries. It may be considered as a treatment option in
selected cases of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with significant cataract with/without early
PVR.
Keywords: Cataract, phacoemulsification, retinal detachment, scleral buckling
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Introduction
Retinal detachment with cataract presents a unique situation for the vitreoretinal surgeon. In
cases where the fundus details cannot be adequately visualized due to cataract, extraction of the
lens is performed simultaneously along with the retinal or vitreous surgery. Cataract surgery has
undergone vast advancements in recent times and phacoemulsification has become the preferred
surgical modality. Small incision wound used in phacoemulsification provides early wound
healing and greater structural stability even as the eye contour is well maintained.
Combined phacoemulsification and scleral buckling for rhegmatogenous detachment and
cataract was first described by Lazar et al.[1] Subsequently, Pierce et al. and Girard et al.,
described the triple surgical procedure, phacoemulsification, intraocular lens implantation and

scleral buckling for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with significant cataract.[2,3] They have
described successful anatomical and functional outcomes after this procedure.
The purpose of this study is to share our experience, while analyzing the treatment outcomes,
with combined phacoemulsification with/without intraocular lens implantation and scleral
buckling.
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Materials and Methods
This retrospective study analyzed ten eyes of ten patients who underwent combined
phacoemulsification with or without intraocular lens implantation and scleral buckling for
rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and dense cataract from September 1991 to September 2006.
All patients had rhegmatogenous retinal detachment without advanced PVR and a significant
cataract (NS-III or more with significant PSC cataract). A detailed biomicroscopic examination
and fundus evaluation (to the extent possible) was done. Systemic examination was
unremarkable in all the patients.
For all patients, preoperative IOL power calculation was carried out while retina was detached,
with the other eye serving as a control. In all cases, additional myopia was considered to be
approximately -1.00 DS by scleral buckle and -2.00 DS by encircling band. Corrected IOL
power was calculated based on the aforesaid considerations. Although we did not measure the
post-operative axial length, we believe that it would be a good technique to refine the
calculation of IOL power, incorporating the surgeon factor.
All patients underwent surgery under local, peribulbar anesthesia. Phacoemulsification was done
through sclero-corneal tunnel placed about 2 mm behind the superior limbus. Anterior chamber
(AC) was formed with viscoelastic substance. Limited anterior vitrectomy was done in one case
with vitreous loss. A well-dilated pupil and clear media were maintained following the
procedure, facilitating intraoperative examination of the fundus details. Retinal breaks were
localized with a binocular indirect ophthalmoscope and cryopexy was done. Scleral buckle was
then placed and transscleral subretinal fluid drainage was done with a 10/0 suture needle, in five
of the ten eyes. Intraocular saline was injected to counter hypotony, wherever necessary.
Intravitreal gas was injected in one eye. Lastly, rigid polymethylmethacrylate intraocular lens
(5.5 mm optic size) was placed in the capsular bag. Viscoelastic was washed and scleral tunnel
sutured with a single, 10-0 nylon mattress suture in all cases. At the end of the procedure, a good
external tamponading effect was noted in all eyes.
All patients received topical steroids and cycloplegic agents, postoperatively. Carbonic
anhydrase inhibitors were used to control raised intraocular pressure, postoperatively, wherever
necessary. All patients were followed up closely for first postoperative week, followed by a
review after six weeks. Treatment outcomes were analyzed till most recent follow-up.
Postoperative follow-up ranged from two months to three years with one patient being lost to
follow-up.
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Results

Ten eyes of 10 patients underwent the combined surgery. All patients were males and the
average age was 45.5 years (Range: 17-77 years). The duration from occurrence of detachment
to surgical intervention ranged from nine days to one year. Five of ten patients had a traumatic
cataract; rest had age-related nucleus sclerosis (grade II to III) and posterior sub-capsular
cataract. Pre-operative, best-corrected visual acuity ranged from bare perception of light to 6/36
(Snellen`s).
Seven of the ten patients had retinal retinal detachment extending more than two quadrants and
the macula was detached in five cases (50%). Three patients had traumatic retinal dialysis and
the rest had breaks related to posterior vitreous detachment. Only one patient had lattice
degeneration with holes associated with high myopia. One patient each, had associated (mild)
vitreous hemorrhage, non proliferative diabetic retinopathy and primary open angle glaucoma.
Two patients had post traumatic angle recession. Three eyes each had grade A and grade B PVR
changes [Table 1].
Table 1
Clinical features of retinal detachment at presentation

All patients underwent phacoemulsification; one patient had posterior capsular rupture with
vitreous loss for which limited anterior vitrectomy was done. During the retinal surgery, no
difficulty related to cataract wound viz anterior chamber collapse or iris prolapse was
encountered.
In all cases, a solid silicone explant combined with #240 encircling band was used. Sub-retinal
fluid was drained in five eyes. One patient had localized choroidal hemorrhage and one patient
had vitreous incarceration at the site of SRF drainage (20%). Rest of the patients did not have

any surgery-related complications. In one patient, 0.3cc of 100% C3F8 was used as an
endotamponade.
After the retinal procedure, five eyes underwent posterior chamber IOL implantation. The five
eyes in which IOL implantation was not possible was because of change in surgical plan, peroperatively to switch from vitreous surgery alone to scleral buckling and cataract surgery. All
these patients were given the option of a secondary IOL implantation versus contact lens use.
Four of these patients continued contact lens wear while one was lost to follow-up. We did not
encounter any intraocular lens subluxation or dislocation. In one patient with preexisting primary
open angle glaucoma, trabeculectomy (with Kelly`s punch) was done after phacoemulsification
and scleral buckling, in the same sitting. Nine of ten patients achieved retinal re-attachment, six
weeks postoperatively. One patient with retinal reattachment at two weeks of post-operative
period was subsequently lost to follow-up. Four patients required medication for postoperative
high intraocular pressure that also included the patient with preoperative secondary glaucoma
(40%).
Visual acuity improved in eight cases while one patient maintained the preoperative vision. Four
patients attained best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) more than 6/12, N10 and one patient was
lost to follow-up [Table 2]. All patients with attached macula had good visual recovery.
Table 2
Pre and post-operative details

Discussion
The combination of retinal detachment and dense cataract presents a unique situation to the
vitreoretinal surgeon. It is difficult to manage with conventional techniques due to instability of
the (extracapsular cataract surgery) wound and difficulty in maintaining the eyeball contour.

Combined cataract and retinal surgery has been employed to increase anatomical and functional
outcomes. Amongst the available options of retinal reattachment surgery, the single operation
success of scleral buckling makes it an attractive option in a (particularly) given surgical
situation.[4,5] A large majority of scleral buckling cases do not require an endotamponade,
thereby not interfering with the stability of the IOL. Nor is a second surgery required for removal
of the endotamponade, making it a less morbid procedure for the eye. In such instances,
combining phacoemulsification with scleral buckling rather than vitrectomy may be a more
optimal surgical decision. However, proper case selection (fresh rhegmatogenous retinal
detachment with minimal PVR) and surgeons familiarity with the surgical techniques must be
factored into achieving higher success rates. Conventional large incision cataract surgeries
cannot be combined with scleral buckling because of the instability of the wound and inability to
maintain the eyeball contour because of fluctuation in intraocular pressure.[6] Also, there is an
increased risk of vitreous loss and aggravation of retinal condition. Phacomulsification provides
a better stability of the wound during the procedure because of its small size.
In 1977, Lazar et al., first reported a case of combined phacoemulsification and scleral buckling
procedure in a 30-year-old mentally retarded female with a successful anatomical outcome.[1]
Pierce et al., initially reported simultaneous phacoemulsification with posterior chamber IOL
implantation and scleral buckling.[2] After that a few studies have shown both successful
anatomical and functional outcomes with some modification in the procedure.[3,7]
Girard et al. reported a case series of 15 patients who underwent a triple procedure:
phacoemulsification, IOL implantation, and scleral buckling for fresh as well as recurrent
rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with a significant cataract.[3] They noted high postoperative
IOP in only one of their cases, which was attributed to the use of viscoelastic. Overall anatomical
success rate was 87% and functional success (visual acuity better than 20/40) was 54%. They
concluded that combined phacoemulsification and scleral buckling was a safe and effective
procedure. Tsai et al. reported combined phacoemulsification with posterior chamber IOL
implantation and scleral buckling with anatomical success of 100%, however, sample size (six
cases) was small. They did not encounter any case of postoperative high intraocular pressure
(IOP).[7]
In our series, 50% of cases had trauma and 50% had long standing retinal detachment. We
localized the breaks in the aphakic (post-phacoemulsification) state and implanted the IOL after
the scleral buckling, a method that was also followed by Tsai et al.[7] Whereas Girard et al.
performed the scleral buckling after IOL implantation, placing the IOL before the scleral
buckling might hamper peripheral visualization and also affect the final outcome. We used rigid
polymethylmethacrylate intraocular lens (5.5 mm) as used by Girard et al. while Tsai et al. used
foldable intraocular lens.
In one case, we also performed filtering surgery for pre-existing primary open angle glaucoma.
However, the postoperative IOP was high which required antiglaucoma medication again.
Viscoelastic was washed at the end of surgery in all cases as leaving viscoelastics increases the
risk of high postoperative IOP.[8] In spite of this, three of our cases had postoperative high IOP,
which was controlled with topical antiglaucoma medication. One of these patients had pre-

operative angle recession, which might have contributed to post operative high IOP. Scleral
buckling itself has been reported to raise the IOP to as high as 36 mmHg.[9] We also analyzed
the postoperative refractive error, especially in the patients who underwent IOL implantation to
check the accuracy of the criteria we employed for IOL power calculation. It ranged between 0
and -3.5 D spherical equivalent; patients had a good acceptance with no complaints of diplopia.
Overall anatomic success rate in our series was 100%, which is similar to that reported in
previous studies.[7] Visual acuity improved in 8 cases. Four patients attained BCVA of more
than 6/12, N10 while 1 patient maintained the preoperative visual acuity due to macular scar and
one patient was lost to follow-up. It has been reported that visual recovery after retinal
reattachment is most dependent on pre-operative macular involvement.[10] In our series, poor
visual outcome in macula detached cases was considered to be photoreceptor damage due to
long-standing retinal detachment.
Combined phacoemulsification and scleral buckling is a safe and effective procedure, which
improves the anatomical and functional outcome in cases with coexisting retinal detachment and
significant cataract. However, visual outcome depends on the duration of detachment and
associated ocular conditions. It spares the patient of undergoing repeated surgeries and also
decreases the risk of recurrent detachment. It may be considered as a surgical alternative in
selected cases with significant cataract and rhegmatogenous retinal detachments with/without
minimal PVR.
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Footnotes
Source of Support: Nil
Conflict of Interest: None
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