Retinal detachment and pseudophakia.

Retinal detachments occur in up to 3.6% of pseudophakic patients. The intraocular lens makes it hard to see the peripheral fundus but the small pupil ophthalmoscope is a valuable help. The functional and anatomic success rates after operation are about 5% less than those of patients with aphakic retinal detachments matched for age and sex. I present fifteen cases of pseudophakic detachment. Any manipulation likely to induce contact between lens and cornea such as collapse of the globe after drainage of fluid or gas injections should be avoided. Careful examination of the fundus before and after cataract extraction and careful selection of paients for lens implantation are the only means of reducing the incidence of retinal detachment.