Purpose: To examine whether the type of intraocular lens (IOL) used in combined pars plana vitrectomy, phacoemulsification, and IOL implantation affects the changes in anterior chamber depth over time.
Methods: A retrospective review was carried out on data from 70 eyes of 70 patients who underwent combined vitrectomy and cataract surgery. Vitrectomy using a 23-gauge system was performed on 66 eyes and using a 25-gauge system on four eyes. The implanted IOLs were the HOYA VA-65BB lens in 38 eyes (6.5-mm group) and the ETERNITY X-70 lens in 32 eyes (7-mm group). Anterior chamber depth was measured using a PENTACAM analyzer before surgery and 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery.
Results: In the 7-mm group, no differences were found in anterior chamber depth between eyes with and without fluid-gas exchange at any point of time after surgery. In the 6.5-mm group, eyes undergoing fluid-gas exchange showed an increase in anterior chamber depth between 1 week and 1 month after surgery. In eyes undergoing fluid-gas exchange, anterior chamber depth 1 week after surgery was shallower in the 6.5-mm group than in the 7-mm group.
Conclusion: Different types of three-piece IOLs showed different degrees of shift due to fluid-gas exchange.