title: Calcific phacolysis. Salvageable vision following treatment.
abstract: Calcific phacolysis has been previously described histopathologically in the enucleated eyes of three patients with unilateral posttraumatic total blindness. Each eye showed dissolution of a mature cataractous lens with dispersion of calcific lens material throughout the globe. We studied a patient in whom the signs of calcific phacolysis developed 19 months following intraoperative dislocation of a cataract into the vitreous. Partial removal of calcific particles was achieved by subtotal vitrectomy and lensectomy, with subsequent penetrating keratoplasty. Corneal histopathological findings showed a deposition of calcified lens particles between Descemet's membrane and retrocorneal fibrous membrane. Despite diffuse retinal calcification, the patient's visual acuity was 20/400. To our knowledge, this is the first report of calcific phacolysis occurring after surgical dislocation of a cataract into the vitreous and wherein treatment resulted in some preservation of vision. Early diagnosis and aggressive therapy may improve the visual prognosis in this condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, New York University Medical Center, NY, USA.
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Charles
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rabin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000867:Anterior Chamber; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D007905:Lens Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D007906:Lens Subluxation / Q000209:etiology; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014821:Vitrectomy