Cataract surgery in eyes predisposed to retinal detachment.

Modifications in cataract surgery technique in patients who have had previous retinal detachment surgery is considered in the following groups: previous "phakic" retinal detachment, in the same eye, in the fellow eye, and previous aphakic retinal detachment in the fellow eye. Prophylactic treatment prior to cataract surgery in these groups is also discussed as well as the prophylaxis of predisposing lesions prior to lens extraction. Finally, the place of cataract surgery in the presence of a retinal detachment is reviewed.