Iris alteration using mechanical iris retractors

• Published in: Journal of cataract and refractive surgery Vol. 27; no. 10; pp. 1703 - 1705
• Main Authors: Tognetto, Daniele, Agolini, Giorgio, Grandi, Giorgio, Ravalico, Giuseppe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.10.2001; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Eye Injuries - etiology; Eye Injuries - pathology; Fatal Outcome; Female; Humans; Iris - injuries; Iris - pathology; Iris Diseases - etiology; Iris Diseases - pathology; Medical sciences; Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures - adverse effects; Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures - instrumentation; Pupil; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the eye and orbit; Vitrectomy; Human; Pars plana; Irregularity; Retractor; Case study; Eye; Treatment; Contour; Iris(eye); Surgery; Complication; Vitrectomy; Surgical approach; Elderly
• ISSN: 0886-3350; 1873-4502
• DOI: 10.1016/S0886-3350(01)00764-7

A 74-year-old woman had a 3-port pars plana vitrectomy for a dropped nucleus after complicated phacoemulsification. Flexible nylon iris retractors were positioned to dilate the small pupil. The patient died of a pulmonary embolus 1 day after surgery. The eyeball was removed at autopsy, and pathology of the iris was investigated. Localized damage to the iris where the retractor hooks were positioned was noted, but no other alterations to the iris were observed. These findings may explain the recovery of pupil function that is common after surgery with mechanical iris retractors.