Therapeutic guidelines and outcome for intravitreally luxated nucleus during ultrasonic cataract surgery

We treated 11 eyes with displaced nucleus in the vitreous during phacoemulsification for cataract. One-half of the patients were aged 75 years and over and had advanced cataract with hard nucleus. The displaced nucleus was removed by pars plana vitrectomy in 10 eyes. Liquid perfluorocarbon was additionally used in 3 eyes. Vitrectomy was followed by retinal injury, iatrogenic oral tear and expulsive hemorrhage in one eye each. Intraocular lens was successfully implanted in all the planned eyes except the eye with choroidal hemorrhage. Displacement of nucleus is to be anticipated in operating for phacoemulsification in risk patients.