title: Rupture of anterior lens capsule from blunt ocular injury.
abstract: We report 3 cases of blunt trauma causing rupture of the anterior lens capsule with cataract formation. The injuries were caused by a paintball gun, a ball-bearing air pistol, and an aluminum rivet. In all 3 cases, the anterior capsule tears were central and the posterior capsules and zonules intact; uneventful cataract extraction with implantation of an intraocular lens was performed. The postoperative visual acuities was 20/40 in 1 case and 20/20 in the other 2 cases. We propose that the anterior lens capsule may have been torn by direct contusion from rapid focal indentation of the cornea onto the lens (coup injury) or by a fluid-mechanical, anteriorly directed rebound of the vitreous, bursting open the anterior capsule (contrecoup injury).
authors.affiliation: W.K. Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Banitt
authors.forename: João B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Malta
authors.forename: Shahzad I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Mian
authors.forename: H Kaz
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Soong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000378:metabolism; D002386:Cataract / Q000209:etiology*; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000293:injuries*; D007904:Lens Cortex, Crystalline / Q000378:metabolism; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D012421:Rupture; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications*