Posterior chamber intraocular lens insertion during pars plana lensectomy and vitrectomy for complications of proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

We inserted posterior chamber lenses into 21 eyes with complications of diabetic retinopathy upon completion of pars plana lensectomy and vitrectomy in a single session. After the original surgery, two eyes developed retinal detachments and underwent vitrectomy revisions with scleral buckling, one eye had a fluid-gas exchange for residual vitreous cavity blood, one eye had supplemental laser treatment, and one eye had intraocular antibiotics for endophthalmitis. Six months later, postoperative vision was better in 16 of the 21 eyes (76%), the same in four eyes (19%), and worse in one eye (5%). In 16 eyes visual acuity was 20/200 or better, and in six eyes it was 20/40 or better postoperatively. Decreased vision was caused by preexisting macular disease; two eyes had corneal edema with iris neovascularization associated with residual retinal detachment. The procedure and lenses were well tolerated and provided good pseudophakic vision.