Traumatic aniridia after small incision cataract extraction.
BACKGROUND
Phacoemulsification and falls are both common in the elderly population. We present a case of acquired total aniridia and vitreous haemorrhage occurring as a result of trauma in a pseudophakic eye.


METHODS
Interventional case report with history, clinical photograph and discussion with literature review.


RESULTS
A previously healthy 74-year-old Caucasian female was referred with a painful left eye and poor vision following a fall and trauma to the left side of her face. Initial examination confirmed visual acuity of perception of light with total hyphaema and vitreous haemorrhage. Subsequent examination revealed complete aniridia with an intact capsular bag and well-centred posterior chamber intraocular lens and attached retina. Final visual acuity after treatment was 6/9.


CONCLUSIONS
Blunt trauma may cause total iris disinsertion in and expulsion from pseudophakic eyes. This relatively novel injury may present increasingly commonly to casualty departments and ophthalmologists.
Sheth
Hiten G
HG
Department of Ophthalmology, St Thomas Hospital, London SE1 7NH, UK. drhitensheth@yahoo.co.uk <drhitensheth@yahoo.co.uk>
Laidlaw
Alistair H
AH
D000058:Accidental Falls; D000368:Aged; D002386:Cataract / Q000150:complications*; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000379:methods; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007498:Iris / Q000293:injuries*; D007499:Iris Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D019591:Pseudophakia / Q000150:complications; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014823:Vitreous Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000209:etiology*