A serious refractive multifocal intraocular lens complication in Meniere's disease.

PURPOSE: To report an unfortunate case of patient selection for multifocal intraocular lens (MIOL) implantation.

METHODS

Interventional case report.

RESULTS

A 69-year-old woman with bilateral corticonuclear cataract underwent uneventful phacoemulsification with diffractive MIOL implantation within 1 week. She reported no previous medical history. A few days later she had persisting dizziness and experienced extreme photic phenomena, which progressively deteriorated. After intensive conversation, we discovered that our patient had a medical history of Meniere's disease. Bilateral intraocular lens exchange surgery was performed. One week after monofocal intraocular lens implantation, the patient was satisfied with the final visual outcome and did not report any visual complaints.

CONCLUSIONS

Retinocortical processing of visual information is impaired in patients with peripheral vestibular disorders such as Meniere's disease. Therefore, these patients are probably not good candidates for MIOL implantation, which requires an intact sensory system with rigorous visuovestibular interaction.