Membranous proliferation on the posterior surface of an intraocular lens after Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy.
BACKGROUND
We report on three patients who showed a rare complication, centripetal membranous proliferation from the posterior capsulotomy edge onto the posterior surface of an intraocular lens (IOL), 3 to 6 months after neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG) capsulotomy.


METHODS
These three patients had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, retinitis pigmentosa, and sarcoidosis, respectively, prior to cataract surgery.


METHODS
Elschnig's pearls developed in the eyes of all three patients after cataract surgery, and were treated by Nd:YAG laser. However, membranous proliferation continued, and Nd:YAG laser treatment was required a second time to disrupt the proliferating fibrous membrane and achieve resolution of the patients' symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Common factors in our cases and cases in the literature were that the IOLs were biconvex and made of polymethyl methacrylate. Ophthalmologists should be aware that after cataract surgery, lens epithelial cells can proliferate onto any surface that provides adequate protein nourishment.
Konno
Kimihito
K
Department of Ophthalmology, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. konno@eye-center.org
Nagamoto
Toshiyuki
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000601:surgery*; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology*; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008566:Membranes; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications