Rapid contraction of the anterior capsule after phacoemulsification in uveitis: A case report.

RATIONALE: While capsular contraction syndrome (CCS) typically develops months after cataract surgery, its potential for rapid progression in uveitis patients remains poorly characterized. This case addresses the critical knowledge gap regarding ultra-early-onset CCS and its diagnostic challenges in inflammatory eye disease.

PATIENT CONCERNS: A 63-year-old male with controlled uveitis reported rapidly worsening blurred vision (15 days postphacoemulsification) despite initially good postoperative visual acuity (0.4 at 1 week). The vision deteriorated to hand motion at 10 cm, unresponsive to anti-inflammatory treatment.

DIAGNOSES: Right eye CCS, right eye posterior uveitis, and left eye senile cataract.

INTERVENTIONS: Initial failed Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy due to extreme fibrosis, 2-day nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug pretreatment, and capsular sac relaxing surgery combined with intraocular lens alignment surgery.

OUTCOMES: Immediate intraoperative restoration of capsular opening, best-corrected visual acuity recovered to 0.5.

LESSONS: This fastest-reported CCS case (15-day onset) demonstrates: uveitis patients require CCS surveillance within 2 to 4 weeks postoperatively; rapid vision decline without active inflammation should prompt CCS consideration; and surgical intervention remains definitive for advanced fibrosis cases.