[Long-term results after epilenticular intraocular lens implantation following traumatic cataract]

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to analyze the late postoperative outcome and complication rate after lensectomy with primary epilenticular intraocular lens (IOL) implantation for traumatic cataract.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the data of 11 patients who were operated on for traumatic cataract after penetrating or blunt ocular trauma between 1997 and 2002. One patient developed cataract due to a large rupture of the posterior capsule after blunt trauma. Ten patients sustained a penetrating ocular injury with (7 eyes) or without (3 eyes) intraocular foreign body (IOFB). In all patients the IOL was implanted at the beginning of the operation into the ciliary sulcus in front of the opaque lens followed by pars-plana lensectomy and vitrectomy.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up was 27.4 months. Eight eyes (72.7 %) achieved a final visual acuity of 0.5 or better. Major causes of limited visual acuity were central corneal scars causing irregular astigmatism. In all patients the IOL was safely and easily implanted into the ciliary sulcus. During the subsequent pars-plana lensectomy and vitrectomy as well as during the follow-up period all IOLs remained anatomically stable and well centered. In one patient PVR retinal detachment had to be treated by pars-plana vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade.

CONCLUSIONS

Epilenticular IOL implantation followed by pars-plana lensectomy is an easy and safe method to treat traumatic cataract in the setting of penetrating ocular trauma repair. It is associated with a favorable visual outcome and a low rate of postoperative complications.

[Phacogenic uveitis with luxation of of Soemmering's ring formation in the vitreous body 63 years after cataract surgery]

BACKGROUND

After extracapsular cataract extraction, the remaining epithelial cells near to the equator may lead to the formation of a Soemmerings ring. Only 4 cases of dislocation of the ring in the vitreous are reported in the literature. A spontaneous dislocation associated with a phacolytic uveitis has not been described before.

HISTORY AND SIGNS

In 1999 a 68-year-old man attended our clinic with a vision loss from 0.3 to hand movements in his left eye. For some years his right eye had been blind after unsuccessful retinal detachment surgery. In his left eye conjunctival inflammation, anterior chamber flare and complete occlusion of the pupil were found. Intraocular pressure was normal under hypotensive medication. Ophthalmoscopy was not possible and ultrasound revealed a ring-like dense structure in the vitreous cavity.

THERAPY AND OUTCOME

Pars plana vitrectomy showed a Soemmerings ring, which was successfully removed by pars plana fragmentation. Forty-eight months postoperatively the patient had a visual acuity of 0.2 in a healthy and normotensive eye.

CONCLUSIONS

Even years after cataract extraction a spontaneous dislocation of Soemmerings ring is possible.

[Primary implantation of posterior chamber lenses after traumatic cataract peneration]

PURPOSE

To analyze the postoperative outcome and complication rate after phacoemulsification, lens aspiration or lensectomy with primary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation after traumatic cataract penetration.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the data of 15 patients who were admitted to our hospital from 1997 to 2001 because of traumatic cataract with corneal laceration with and without intraocular foreign body (IOFB). In all patients phacoemulsification, lens aspiration or lensectomy and primary IOL implantation were performed. Removal of IOFB was performed in 6 patients.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up was 19.6 months, 8 eyes (53%) achieved a final visual acuity of 20/40 or better and 12 eyes achieved 20/100 or better final visual acuity. One patient (final visual acuity=1/40) had an additional macular pathology. Due to irregular astigmatism two patients achieved a final vision of less than 20/100. Major causes of limited visual acuity were central corneal scars and in one patient a photopic maculopathy. Four eyes (25%) developed secondary cataract and underwent YAG laser capsulotomy. In one patient PVR retinal detachment had to be treated by pars-plana vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary implantation of posterior chamber lenses after penetrating ocular trauma is associated with a favourable visual outcome and a low rate of postoperative complications.

Sensitivity of the MTI photoscreener for amblyogenic factors in infancy and early childhood

BACKGROUND

Screening for amblyogenic factors in infancy by pediatricians is unsatisfactory, as they hardly ever detect ametropia or microstrabismus. As photoscreening seems to be a helpful method to detect even small squint angles and refractive errors, we tested the MTI photoscreener for its sensitivity with respect to amblyogenic factors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

One hundred and twelve children aged 6-48 months were first examined with the MTI photoscreener. Then each child underwent complete medical examination by an ophthalmologist and an orthoptist. The examination included the Hirschberg test (corneal reflex evaluation), the Brückner test (fundus red reflex), and, where possible, the Lang stereotest, the cover test and visual acuity assessment, as well as a motility test, biomicroscopy, ophthalmoscopy in mydriasis and refractometry in cycloplegia. Exclusion criteria were any organic pathological results, manifest strabismus, ametropia > or = 2 D and astigmatism > or = 1 D. An orthoptist, a pediatrician and two ophthalmologists independently evaluated the Polaroid pictures according to the criteria given in the handbook of the MTI photoscreener.

RESULTS

For 10 children the evaluation with the MTI photoscreener was not possible despite the fact that photographs were retaken several times. Thirteen photographs showing obvious pathologic findings despite their poor quality were included. Eighty-three of the remaining 102 children failed the eye examination according to the above-mentioned criteria. The mean sensitivity of the MTI photoscreener was determined to be 82.8%. The ability to correctly identify the absence of any amblyogenic factors (specificity) was 61.8%.

CONCLUSIONS

Sensitivity was high when compared to the usually low detection rate during pediatric examinations. Due to the low specificity, effectiveness was poor. Therefore an ophthalmological examination should be included in the preventive screening during infancy and early childhood.

Vitrectomy in diabetic patients with a blind fellow eye

Results of pars plana vitrectomy for complications of proliferative diabetic retinopathy were analysed in 32 consecutive patients with a blind fellow eye due to diabetic eye disease. The mean follow-up period was 22.3 months. Only 16% of all eyes examined had received full scatter photocoagulation prior to referral for vitrectomy. Out of 9 eyes with vitreous haemorrhage, 8 improved to a visual acuity of > or = 0.2 postoperatively. Amid 23 eyes which were vitrectomized for advanced traction retinal detachment, only 4 eyes improved to a postoperative visual acuity of > or = 0.02. In this group 12 eyes deteriorated after vitrectomy, 3 eyes progressing to no light perception. The postoperative visual outcome after vitrectomy for traction retinal detachment in this group of diabetics with a blind fellow eye (mean postoperative visual acuity 0.03 +/- 0.05) was significantly worse (p < 0.000) compared to a group of 196 patients with a seeing fellow eye who were vitrectomized for traction retinal detachment at our clinic (mean postoperative visual acuity 0.09 +/- 0.11). Therefore we conclude that traction retinal detachment in this subgroup of patients is a particularly severe presentation of diabetic retinopathy with a guarded functional prognosis after vitrectomy. Our results demonstrate the importance of timely full scatter photocoagulation and early vitrectomy in eyes with progressive fibrovascular proliferation not responding to panretinal photocoagulation. We conclude that especially diabetic patients with a blind fellow eye must be followed closely and assigned to vitrectomy at an earlier stage of their disease in order to improve functional prognosis.