Choroidal effusion and hypotony caused by severe anterior lens capsule contraction following cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: The case report describes a case of severe anterior capsular contraction associated with choroidal effusion.

CASE REPORT: An 81 year old female with primary open angle glaucoma underwent routine phacoemulsification cataract surgery. Eight weeks following surgery the anterior capsule opening had reduced to 3 mm in size. Intraocular pressure was found to be 4 mmHg and B scan ultrasound revealed a large choroidal effusion. Anterior capsulotomy with Nd:YAG laser was performed. At review, two weeks later, the choroidal effusion had resolved and visual acuity had recovered.

DISCUSSION: The Nd:YAG laser radial relaxing capsulotomies helped relieve the capsular contraction and associated traction on the ciliary body.