Fracture of a polyimide-elastimide posterior chamber intraocular lens following blunt orbital trauma.

PURPOSE: Fracture of a three-piece polyimide-elastimide intraocular lens at the optic-haptic junction following blunt trauma is a possible complication after cataract surgery. We report a case of an isolated posterior chamber intraocular lens fracture caused by direct ocular blunt trauma. CASE: A 51-year-old patient underwent blunt orbital trauma caused by a raw chicken egg that was thrown at him, as he was walking. The posterior chamber intraocular lens was found in the anterior chamber, with a broken optic-haptic junction. The intraocular lens was exchanged, followed by iris fixation and pupilloplasty, with satisfactory postoperative anatomical and optical outcomes. DISCUSSION: The three-piece polyimide-elastimide intraocular lens was fractured at the optic-haptic junction. Although the fractured intraocular lens surface had a regular appearance, it has been previously reported that the polyimide haptic's durability is probably inferior to that of polymethylmethacrylate. Therefore, it is highly susceptible to shear stress induced by a blunt trauma. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is an uncommon report of an implanted posterior chamber polyimide-elastimide intraocular lens fracture following blunt orbital trauma. Intraocular lens exchange and fixation had successful optical and anatomical results.

Circumferential silicone sponge scleral buckling induced axial length changes: case series and comparison to literature.

BACKGROUND: This study compared axial length changes induced by circumferential scleral buckling using a silicone sponge with literature reports for solid silicone rubber. METHODS: Records of patients treated with scleral buckling in 2009-2013 using a silicone sponge, with preoperative axial length biometry measurements were reviewed. Additional information included age, type of surgery, additional surgeries, phakic status and anatomical success of reattachment. Patients underwent repeat biometry. The medical literature was reviewed for articles describing axial length changes induced by circumferential buckling using solid silicone rubber. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients (mean age 49.7 years, range 16-72) met the inclusion criteria. Mean axial length was 25.38 mm preoperatively and 26.12 mm at least 6 months postoperatively (SD 0.50 ± 0.09, p < 0.001); a mean increase of 0.74 mm. Half the patients subsequently underwent cataract surgery. Post-operative changes were not significant compared to pre-surgical refraction and corneal astigmatism. Axial length change was not significant between sexes (9 women and 19 men). CONCLUSIONS: Axial length changes induced by circumferential scleral buckling using silicone sponge exclusively are similar to those reported in the literature for solid silicone rubber buckles. Scleral buckling using a silicone sponge, which may offer several surgical advantages, induces an acceptable axial length change similar to that seen with widely-used solid silicone rubber buckles.