Illumination provides clear imaging for poor red reflex eyes

Intracameral illumination provides high-quality imaging and near 360° lens capsule structure visualization in eyes with poor red reflex, states a recent paper.

The interventional case series, conducted by a team led by Dr Yun Jung, Department of Ophthalmology, Gachon University Gil Hospital, Incheon, Korea, comprised of 17 eyes of 17 patients. All patients underwent surgeon-controlled intracameral illumination for combined cataract surgery and 23-gauge vitrectomy.

The main outcome measures included causes of the poor red reflex, value of the intracameral illuminator in specific cataract steps and intraoperative and postoperative complications.

Main causes of poor red reflex included vitreous haemorrhage in 8 eyes, vitreous opacity in 6 eyes and corneal opacity, bullous retinal detachment and globe deviation in 1 eye each.

Amount of corneal scatter and reflection of illuminating light was minimized by horizontal or oblique intracameral illumination. The excellent visibility of the lens capsules assisted the removal of almost all lens epithelial cells from the capsular bag.

All eyes underwent complete capsulorhexis and in-the-bag implantation of an IOL. Only one eye presented with a radial anterior capsule tear during irrigation/aspiration. The intracameral illumination procedure can be used for challenging cataract surgery combined with vitrectomy.

For the abstract please visit the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.