Viscodelamination of Localized Retrolental Plaques During Lens-Sparing Vitrectomy in Eyes With Pediatric Tractional Vitreoretinopathy

To report viscodelamination of localized retrolental plaques during lens-sparing vitrectomy in eyes with pediatric tractional vitreoretinopathy. METHODS: Viscodelamination of retrolental plaques was performed during 23-gauge lens-sparing vitrectomy in 11 eyes from 11 children with a median age (range) of 12 (4–58) months. There were five eyes with Stage 4 familial exudative vitreoretinopathy, one eye with Stage 4B retinopathy of prematurity, and five eyes with anterior–posterior persistent fetal vasculature syndrome. Retrolental plaques were separated from the posterior lens capsule by the tension of viscoelastic injection in the Berger's space. RESULTS: In 10 of 11 eyes, retrolental plaques were removed from posterior surface of lens without capsular tearing. During the 12-month to 18-month follow-up period, lens clarity along the visual axis was retained in 5 eyes with familial exudative vitreoretinopathy, one eye with retinopathy of prematurity, and 2 of 5 eyes with persistent fetal vasculature. Atraumatic viscodelamination was associated with retrolental plaques that did not incorporate into the posterior lens capsule. Retinal dragging was reversed in all 11 eyes. CONCLUSION: Viscodelamination may be effective for the dissection of retrolental plaques related to pediatric vitreoretinopathy in selected cases.