title: Acquired anterior ocular melanocytosis following cataract extraction.
abstract: The right eye of a 59-year-old man was the subject of extracapsular cataract extraction and posterior chamber lens implantation. He gradually developed superior sectoral scleral and diffuse iris hyperpigmentation within 7 years postoperatively. The iris was also uniformly thickened. He sustained 20/20 visual acuity in the pseudophakic eye. Despite marked pigmentation of the angle, his right intraocular pressure remained within normal limits. We use the term acquired anterior ocular melanocytosis because the pigmentary changes were confined to the anterior segment and the choroid was not involved. We conclude that surgical injury in the form of cataract extraction can induce episcleral/scleral hyperpigmentation and iris hyperchromia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. hayyamk@ttnet.net.tr
authors.forename: Hayyam
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kiratli
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Irkeç
mesh_terms: D000869:Anterior Eye Segment / Q000473:pathology*; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007499:Iris Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008548:Melanosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D015422:Scleral Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate