ABSTRACT
The removal of a lens or cataract via the pars plana was introduced coincidentally with vitrectomy by the same approach. Initially, lenses were removed with the vitreous cutting instrument alone. 1,2 This was a rather tedious process, because pieces of lens often had to be retrieved from the surface of the retina and fed manually into the cutting port. With the introduction of the ultrasonic fragmentation needle, the lens or cataract could be removed with increased ease and efficiency. 3–;8 The ultrasonic fragmentation tip now serves as the standard instrument for pars plana lensectomy.
