title: Occult anterior-chamber metallic fragment post-phacoemulsification masquerading as chronic recalcitrant postoperative inflammation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report a case of an occult, metallic, anterior-chamber intraocular foreign body after uneventful phacoemulsification that was masquerading as chronic recalcitrant postoperative inflammation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interventional case report.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 73-year-old patient was referred to us for recalcitrant anterior-chamber inflammation after uneventful phacoemulsification; the patient presented with visual disturbances, anterior-chamber inflammation, and macular epiretinal membrane with concomitant cystoid macular edema.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After meticulous evaluations and repeated clinical examinations, a metallic intraocular foreign body was discovered on the iris, which was surgically removed and analyzed. Chemical analysis revealed copper, aluminum, and zinc. Pars plana vitrectomy with epiretinal membrane and indocyanine-green-assisted internal limiting membrane peeling followed, with subsequent improvement of visual acuity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intraocular foreign bodies should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of recalcitrant inflammation post-phacoemulsification. However, in the absence of intraocular inflammation, surgical removal of such particles is questionable.
authors.affiliation: Division of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. astangos@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Alexandros N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Stangos
authors.forename: Constantin J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Pournaras
authors.forename: Ioannis K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Petropoulos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000473:pathology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019773:Epiretinal Membrane / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D005129:Eye Foreign Bodies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D007498:Iris / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D008670:Metals; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014606:Uveitis, Anterior / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014821:Vitrectomy
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D008670:Metals; D007208:Indocyanine Green