Late postoperative opacification of the hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lens in both eyes.

PURPOSE: To report on the clinical findings of a case of late opacification of the hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lens (IOLs) in both eyes after cataract surgery.

METHODS

A 79-year-old man with a history of decreased visual acuity and complaints of glare and blurred vision in both eyes over the past 3 years. He had received an uneventful phacoemulsification combined with posterior chamber IOL implantation for senile cataract in both eyes 13 years ago, and had undergone neodymium:YAG(Nd:YAG) laser posterior capsulotomy on both eyes 6 years ago, for posterior capsular opacification (PCO). The optical portion of the IOLs showed uniform gray haze. Binocular posterior capsular laser holes were clearly noted.

RESULTS

IOL exchange was performed by the same surgeon on both eyes, three days apart. Postoperatively, the patient's visual acuity was elevated to 6/12 (OD) and 6/9 (OS) at 6 months, and intraocular pressure (IOP) reached 16.8 mmHg (OD) and 18.4 mmHg (OS). Neither glare or blurred vision were observed in either eye.

CONCLUSION

IOL exchange can be used to effectively manage clinically significant optic opacification.