AIM: To explore the development process of when posterior vitreous detachments(PVDs)after coaxial micro-incision phacoemulsification and aspiration combined with foldable intraocular lens implantation.

METHODS: Clinical data of 917 patients with cataract were collected after coaxial microincision phacoemulsification and aspiration combined with foldable intraocular lens implantation. The 917 operating eyes forms observation group and the 917 corresponding normal eyes serve as control group. All patients underwent a comprehensive ocular examination before surgery. The vitreous and retinal condition was tested by B-scan ultrasonography and biomicroscope with a 90-diopter(D)preset lens after 1 week and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively.

RESULTS: The incident rate of eyes in the observation group that developed PVD after operation were 8(0.9%), 31(3.4%), 53(5.8%), 78(8.5%), 129(14.1%)within 1 week and 1, 3, 6, 12 months, respectively. Ten(7.8%)of the 129 eyes in which PVD developed during the one year follow-up period had new retinal breaks with or without a retinal detachment; One(0.1%)of the 788 eyes in which a PVD did not developed during the follow-up period had new retinal tear with or without a retinal detachment; these percentages were statistically significant(P=0.009). Eight(14.8%)of 54 eyes with lattice degeneration and 2(2.7%)of 75 eyes without lattice degeneration had retinal tears associated with a PVD; the difference was statistically significant(P=0.004).

CONCLUSION: Development of PVDs seems to accelerate after coaxial microincision phacoemulsification and linearly accumulated for 1 year postoperatively. Approximately 7.8% of eyes with a PVD had retinal tears. Compared with patients having no lattice degeneration, Patients' eyes with lattice degeneration had a 5.5-fold higher risk of developing retinal breaks associated with a PVD. This indicates long-term follow-up is necessary after phacoemulsification is performed.