Peeling and aspiration of elschnig pearls! An effective alternative to Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy!

• Main Authors: Rahul Bhargava, Prachi Kumar, Shiv K Sharma, Sumat Sharma, Namrata Mehra, Anuraag Mishra
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2013-01-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Ophthalmology
• Subjects: Chemotherapy; focal treatment; retinoblastoma; Allergic eye disease; papillae; shield ulcer; vernal keratoconjunctivitis; Anti-VEGF injections; bevacizumab; neovascular age-related macular degeneration; ranibizumab; submacular hemorrhage; Emergency department; ocular; trauma; work related injuries; Ocular trauma; open globe injury; preoperative (initial) visual acuity; prognostic factors; relative afferent pupillary defect; Configuration; choroidal neovascular membrane; foveal slope; foveal thickness; macular pigment; Descemet membrane; keratoplasty; optical coherence tomography; Central serous chorioretinopathy; epidural steroid; retinal pigment epithelium detachment; retinal pigment epithelium tear; Self-inflicted; ocular injury; needle; Anterior chamber maintainer; best corrected visual acuity; neodymium yttrium aluminium garnet laser; ocular visco-surgical device; posterior capsule opacification
• Online Access: http://www.ijo.in/article.asp?issn=0301-4738;year=2013;volume=61;issue=9;spage=518;epage=520;aulast=Bhargava
• ISSN: 0301-4738; 1998-3689

To evaluate the efficacy of peeling and aspiration of Elschnig pearls. Retrospective study in a medical college hospital. Records of 217 eyes which underwent surgical peeling and aspiration for membranous PCO between 2006 and 2009, was reviewed. Peeling and aspiration was fashioned with a blunt tipped 20G cannula after stabilizing anterior chamber with anterior chamber maintainer. Post-operative vision and complications were analyzed. Mc Nemar and Chi square tests. The mean age was 56.84 years. 85.71% patients achieved best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20/20 at 3 m. Recurrence of pearls, uveitis and cystoid macular edema were the most common causes of reduced vision. Peeling and aspiration of pearls seem to be a viable alternative to Neodymium yttrium garner aluminium (Nd: YAG) laser capsulotomy for membranous PCO.