Impact of fluidic parameters during phacoemulsification on the anterior vitreous face behavior: Experimental study

PURPOSE: To evaluate the eff ect of different aspiration flow rates (AFR) and bottle heights (BH) on vitreous face (AVF) during phacoemulsifi cation. METHODS: Experimental study in 20 porcine eyes. Transzonular viscodissection was performed between the posterior capsule(PC) and AVF to dissect out the Berger's space. Triamcinolone acetonide was injected into this space to aid visualization with ultrasound B-Scan(USG). Realtime USG was performed during phacoemulsifi cation. Eyes were divided randomly into–Group I: Low parameters(AFR = 20 cc/min, BH = 90 cm, vacuum = 400 mmHg), and Group II: High parameters (AFR = 40 cc/min, BH = 110 cm, vacuum=650 mm Hg). RESULTS: 15 eyes were analysed (8 in Group I; 7 in Group II). In all eyes, forward and backward movement of the PC was seen when going from foot position 0 to 1, or on occlusion break. Amplitude of these movements was much greater in Group II compared to Group I. There was no PC rupture in either group. In 2 of the 7 eyes in Group II, USG showed a sudden, spontaneous dispersion appearance of sono-opaque echoes in the vitreous cavity alongwith disappearance of the well-defi ned, crescentic stained space despite an intact PC. This suggests rupture of the AVF, leading to dispersion of the triamcinolone into the entire vitreous cavity. No AVF rupture was seen in Group I. CONCLUSION: We report a rarely described entity of AVF rupture with intact PC. The use of high AFR and BH may have clinically invisible detrimental consequences to the anterior vitreous face.