Posters

Intraocular polyimide IOL haptic breakage long-term postoperatively

Poster Details

First Author: L.Werner USA

Co Author(s):    S. Stallings   A. Chayet   S. Masket   F. Camacho   C. Cutler Peck   N. Mamalis

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To present clinicopathological correlation of 2 cases of 3-piece silicone lenses with broken polyimide haptics.

Setting:

1. John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. 2. Codet Vision Institute, Tijuana, Mexico. 3. Advanced Vision Care, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Methods:

In the first case, the lens was implanted into the anterior chamber after posterior capsule rupture. Twelve years later, it was explanted and exchanged due to bullous keratopathy. However, upon careful manipulation for explantation, the haptics shattered into multiple pieces. In the second case, initial in-the-bag implantation of the lens was uneventful. Fifteen years later, the lens dislocated into the anterior chamber as a result of spontaneous, in situ haptic breakage. The lenses were explanted and sent for pathological analyses.

Results:

The haptics of both lenses appeared very brittle during careful manipulation for gross and light microscopy, with further breakage. Scanning electron microscopy of both lenses revealed no evidence of degradation of the haptics. Their surfaces appeared smooth and regular, with jagged edges where the breaks occurred.

Conclusions:

Few studies have examined the long-term biocompatibility of polyimide, and more research is needed to determine the cause of this phenomenon. FINANCIAL INTEREST: NONE