title: Phacoemulsification, persistent hypotony, and cyclodialysis clefts.
abstract: A retrospective noncomparative case-note analysis of 3 men presenting with persistent hypotony after routine phacoemulsification cataract surgery was performed. All patients had a previous history of significant blunt ocular trauma. All patients had surgical repair of the cyclodialysis clefts, 1 with cleft cryopexy and 2 with formal cleft closure with a limbal-based double scleral flap technique. All patients achieved closure of the cyclodialysis clefts following surgical intervention with complete resolution of hypotony. Mean preoperative intraocular pressures improved from 3, 4 and 3 mm Hg in the 3 cases to 11, 16, and 17 mm Hg postoperatively. Visual acuities improved from preoperative readings of counting fingers, 6/36 and 6/24 in the 3 cases to 6/6, 6/9, and 6/9 postoperatively. Persistent hypotony because of possible activation of a preexisting doormant cyclodialysis cleft following routine atraumatic phacoemulsification cataract surgery in previously traumatized eyes has not been reported.
authors.affiliation: Birmingham and Midland Eye Center, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Bushra
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mushtaq
authors.forename: Mark Y-M
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Vinod
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: U S
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Ramanathan
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002924:Ciliary Body / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015814:Ocular Hypotension / Q000209:etiology*; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012421:Rupture; D014603:Uveal Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery