Twenty two cases of dropped nucleus following 1,196
phacoemulsification procedures in cataract surgery were
examined retrospectively to determine the incidence,
predisposing factors and visual outcomes of this dreaded
complication. All the cases underwent pars plana vitrectomy and the lens fragments were removed with
phacofragmotome, vitrectomy cutter or delivered through
limbus. The incidence of dropped nucleus was 1.84%. The
predisposing factors were hard cataracts (13.6%), polar
cataracts (9.1%), previously vitrectomized eyes (4.5%) and high myopia (4.5%). The final visual outcome was > 6/12 in 10 eyes (45.5%); complications were seen in 5 eyes (22.7%). The interval between initial surgery and vitrectomy, the method of fragment removal and the type of lens implanted, did not influence the final visual outcome