Traumatic ocular lens dislocation

Postmortem changes in the eye on computed tomography images

BACKGROUND

Ocular tension decreases with increasing postmortem interval (PMI) and eyes collapse with extreme progression of postmortem change; however, time-related changes in postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) findings have not been clarified. This study aimed to quantitatively evaluate the vitreous volume and CT values of the vitreous body to clarify time-related changes in PMCT.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed PMCT images of the eyes of subjects who underwent autopsy at our institution between July 2023 and February 2024. They were classified into four PMI groups: PMI-1: < 1 day, PMI-2: 1-2 days, PMI-3: 3-6 days, PMI-4: ≥ 7 days. The vitreous volumes and mean CT values of the vitreous chambers were measured. Additionally, the presence of intraocular gas and crystalline lens dislocation was observed.

RESULTS

The PMCT images of 131 eyes of 66 patients (41 males, 25 females) were analyzed. The mean age was 63.7 (22-99) years. The volume of the vitreous cavity was significantly decreased at PMI-3 and PMI-4, which indicated scleral depression. Intraocular gas appeared in PMI-4. Lens dislocation began at PMI-3 and was more frequently observed at PMI-4 and in the higher-temperature environment group.

CONCLUSION

Ocular findings on PMCT are useful for estimating the time of death.

Traumatic Lens Dislocation in an Eye with Anterior Megalophthalmos

Anterior megalophthalmos is a rare, bilateral, nonprogressive, hereditary, congenital disorder characterized by the enlargement of all anterior segment structures of the eye, with megalocornea, iris atrophy, and zonular abnormalities. We report a case of an 8-year-old male who presented to the emergency department with a history of visual loss after a blunt ocular trauma to the left eye. The patient presented with markedly enlarged corneas and deepened anterior chambers bilaterally. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was hand motion in the left eye. An additional examination revealed multiple anterior segment abnormalities, leading to the diagnosis of megalophthalmos and lens dislocation in the anterior chamber. The patient underwent a lensectomy and anterior vitrectomy in the left eye. At six months postoperatively, the BCVA was 20/200 in the left eye. Lens dislocation in patients with megalocornea is rare. Cataract surgery in these patients requires attention to the zonular abnormalities and lens enlargement, resulting in increased rates of intraoperative and postoperative complications. Ophthalmologists should be able to diagnose this rare disorder and manage the associations and complications.

Bedside Ocular Ultrasound Diagnosis of a Traumatic Lens Dislocation

Rapid identification of ophthalmologic emergencies can be challenging in the ED, and a missed or delayed diagnosis may have vision-threatening consequences. The application of ocular point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) by the emergency physician (EP) can facilitate the timely recognition of a myriad of emergent eye conditions. This report describes a case in which EP-performed POCUS established the prompt diagnosis of a traumatic lens dislocation in a patient with chronic vision changes.

Benefits to utilising ultrasound in examining the eye

Ocular ultrasound (US) is not one of ACEMs 'big 5' in terms of US capability that is expected of a trainee or FACEM. Most texts have a small chapter dedicated to ocular US but it is usually at the back or a subsection of a chapter where it is rarely seen or appreciated. However, it is a straightforward scan to perform with many benefits which will be discussed in this article. The eye offers an excellent medium for US beam penetration, making good quality images of the retina easy and quick to acquire. This has the added benefit of being able to share images with an ophthalmologist remotely, improving time to definitive treatment. It can also be used in patients who cannot cooperate with sitting at a slitlamp, for example moribund or trauma patients. The authors propose that ocular US teaching should be incorporated into the ACEM syllabus, being a vital adjunct to a comprehensive eye examination.