Change in postoperative refractive error when vitrectomy is added to intraocular lens implantation

Purpose: To compare the actual and expected refractive errors after intraocular lens (IOL) implantation alone with those after IOL implantation with simultaneous vitrectomy. Setting: Shinjo Eye Clinic, Miyazaki, Japan. Method: One hundred thirty-six eyes had cataract extraction and implantation of a single-piece IOL using a frown incision, continuous annular anterior capsule tear, phacoemulsification, and intracapsular lens fixation. Thirty-six eyes also had vitrectomy. Results: Mean postoperative refractive error was 0.55 diopter (D) +/- 1.34 (SD) in eyes having no vitrectomy and 0.04 +/- 1.24 D in those having vitrectomy. The difference between groups was statistically significant (P = .047; t-test). Conclusion: The refraction after simultaneous IOL implantation and vitrectomy shifted toward myopia by a mean of 0.50 D compared with that after IOL implantation alone.