Efficacy of phacoemulsification combined with vitrectomy for macular retinoschisis in degenerative myopic cataract eyes

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of phacoemulsification combined with vitrectomy for macular retinoschisis in degenerative myopic cataract eyes. Methods A retrospective study. Thirty-six eyes of 36 patients with macular retinoschisis in degenerative myopic cataract eyes from Feb.2017 to Jan.2018 in Puyang Municipal Eye Hospital were divided into two groups. Group A, 16 eyes of 16 cases, were treated with phacoemulsification. Group B, 20 eyes of 20 cases, were treated with phacoemulsification combined with vitrectomy. The BCVA, macular foveal retinal thickness and macular morphology after operation were compared between the two groups. Results The BCVA of the group B were 1.12±0.20, 0.77±0.22 and 0.36±0.17 before, 3 and 6 months after operation, and that of the group A were 1.11±0.19, 0.60±0.20 and 0.51±0.18, respectively. The BCVA of group A at 3 months after operation was better than that of group B, but BCVA was lower than that of combined group at 6 months after operation, and the differences were statistically significant (t=2.397, -2.563, P=0.022, 0.015). The average thickness of macular centre retina in group B was lower than that of group A at 3 and 6 months postoperatively(t=-2.219, -2.382; P=0.033, 0.023). There was no significant difference in macular improvement rate between the two groups(χ2=0.013, P=0.909). No postoperative complication such as iatrogenic retinal breaks formation endophthalmitis or intraocular hemorrhage occurred. Conclusion Phacoemulsification combined with vitrectomy can help to improve the visual function of macular retinoschisis in degenerative myopic cataract eyes. Key words: Retinoschisis, macular; Myopia, degenerative; Vitrectomy; Phacoemulsification; Visual function