Capsular tension ring use in a patient with congenital coloboma of the lens.

Cataract surgery was performed in a 63-year-old man with bilateral coloboma of the lens. There was no traumatic history, but the patient had lower zonule deficiency and zonular weakness in both eyes, leading us to suspect congenital coloboma of the lens. In the first eye having cataract surgery, it was impossible to rotate the cataractous lens and place the intraocular lens (IOL) centrally in the capsular bag because the lens capsule was not round. The second eye had similar problems, and capsular tension ring implantation improved cataract lens rotation and phacodonesis, enabling central IOL implantation in the capsular bag. The visual acuity recovered to 20/20 in both eyes. Capsular tension ring implantation can facilitate cataract surgery in coloboma of the lens, even in long-term and continuous lens capsule deformity.

Intentional complete interruption of a retinal vein after vitrectomy might improve the rate of successful chorioretinal venous anastomosis formation in central retinal vein occlusion.

BACKGROUND: Laser or surgical chorioretinal venous anastomosis has not become widespread as suitable treatment for central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). We report here the effectiveness of cutting off a retinal vein with vitrectomy in making a chorioretinal venous anastomosis in CRVO. METHODS: We performed a vitrectomy accompanied by a chorioretinal venous anastomosis procedure for seven consecutive patients with CRVO. These patients had shown no improvement in their visual acuity in the month following their first visit to our hospital and had a visual acuity of less than 20/200. Their preoperative visual acuity ranged from counting fingers to 20/300. The procedure included the complete cutting of the affected retinal vein, and the making of a small incision at both sides of the vein interruption through the full thickness of the retina, the retinal pigment epithelium and Bruch's membrane. RESULTS: In five of the seven patients, successful chorioretinal venous anastomosis was observed. All five patients showed an improvement of two or more lines in visual acuity 6 months postoperatively. In three of the five, visual acuity was 20/100 or better. A postoperative complication of recurrent vitreous hemorrhage and fibrous proliferation was observed in one patient, and a second operation was necessary. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical interruption of an affected vein was a feasible procedure and could raise the rate of successful chorioretinal venous anastomosis in CRVO.