To evaluate the efficacy and intraocular lens (IOL) stability of vitrectomy combined with the surgical removal of anterior capsular opacity (ACO) and posterior capsular opacity (PCO).

Forty-four pseudophakic eyes of 43 patients with retinal disorders underwent vitrectomy with surgical removal after cataract diagnosis. Nineteen eyes of 19 patients (group 1) had ACO and PCO removed while 25 eyes of 24 patients (group 2) had only PCO removed. Total removal of the entire lens capsule, except for the area around the haptics, was performed when capsular opacity with fibrosis was observed around the capsulorrhexis margin. LogMAR best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraoperative complications and postoperative complications were compared.

The retina was flat and postoperative BCVA improved in both groups. Intraoperative complications of IOL dislocation occurred in 3 eyes (15.8%) in group 1 and in 1 eye (4.0%) in group 2 ( p =0.178). Among the 4 IOLs, 3 were open-loop haptic IOLs and 1 was a closed-loop haptic IOL. Late postoperative complications of IOL capture occurred in 1 eye (5.3%) in group 1.

Removal of ACO and PCO for better visualization of the peripheral retina resulted in an improved visual recovery while intraoperative complications and postoperative complications were comparable to PCO removal alone. Removal limited to the optic zone would be more stable when considering any adhesion between the lens capsule and the IOL.