Etiology, pathogenesis, and management of acute intraocular lens opacification: a systematic review

Int J Ophthalmol. 2022 Jul 18;15(7):1190-1197. doi: 10.18240/ijo.2022.07.21. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Millions of cataract surgeries with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation are performed worldwide. Although cataract surgery brings many benefits to the patients, the risk of various complications is still a concern. One of the infrequent adverse events but potentially affecting on patients' visual acuity and contrast sensitivity is losing the transparency of IOL. IOL opacification may lead to IOL removal or exchange, which is unpleasant to both the patient and the surgeon. Several reports of acute IOL clouding are available in the literature describing various etiologies of this phenomenon, however, the exact mechanism remained unclear in some cases. Herein, we aimed to review the causes and outcomes of intraoperative and early postoperative IOL opacification.

Keywords: acute discoloration; acute opacification; cataract; intraocular lens; phacoemulsification.

Publication types

  • Review