[Phacogenic uveitis with luxation of of Soemmering's ring formation in the vitreous body 63 years after cataract surgery].

BACKGROUND

After extracapsular cataract extraction, the remaining epithelial cells near to the equator may lead to the formation of a Soemmerings ring. Only 4 cases of dislocation of the ring in the vitreous are reported in the literature. A spontaneous dislocation associated with a phacolytic uveitis has not been described before.

HISTORY AND SIGNS: In 1999 a 68-year-old man attended our clinic with a vision loss from 0.3 to hand movements in his left eye. For some years his right eye had been blind after unsuccessful retinal detachment surgery. In his left eye conjunctival inflammation, anterior chamber flare and complete occlusion of the pupil were found. Intraocular pressure was normal under hypotensive medication. Ophthalmoscopy was not possible and ultrasound revealed a ring-like dense structure in the vitreous cavity.

THERAPY AND OUTCOME: Pars plana vitrectomy showed a Soemmerings ring, which was successfully removed by pars plana fragmentation. Forty-eight months postoperatively the patient had a visual acuity of 0.2 in a healthy and normotensive eye.

CONCLUSIONS

Even years after cataract extraction a spontaneous dislocation of Soemmerings ring is possible.