Address of Corresponding Author

Ophthalmologica 2005;219:21-25 (DOI: 10.1159/000081778)

  Key Words

• Blood-aqueous barrier
• Aqueous flare
• Fuchs' heterochromic uveitis
• Phacoemulsification

  Abstract

Purpose: To quantify the breakdown of the blood-aqueous barrier (BAB) following phacoemulsification with posterior chamber lens implantation in eyes with Fuchs' heterochromic uveitis (FHU). Patients and Methods: In this retrospective study, 19 eyes of 19 patients with FHU (mean age 38 ± 14 years) and 35 eyes of 35 patients with senile cataracts (mean age 63 ± 9 years) underwent phacoemulsification with one-piece PMMA posterior chamber lens implantation. Aqueous flare was quantified using the laser flare-cell meter (LFCM, Kowa FC-1000) following medical pupillary dilation preoperatively and 1, 3, and 5 days, then 1 and 6 weeks and 6 months postoperatively. Results: Mean preoperative aqueous flare (in photon counts per millisecond) in FHU vs. controls was 11.7 ± 3.5 vs. 5.8 ± 1.7. Following cataract surgery, mean aqueous flare increased to 27.8 ± 4.4 vs. 16.0 ± 4.5 on day 1, decreased to 23.6 ± 4.0 vs. 11.8 ± 3.5 on day 3, and to 18.0 ± 3.0 vs. 9.5 ± 1.7 on day 5. In FHU eyes, it was 13.9 ± 2.7 after 1 week, and had returned to preoperative levels after 6 weeks (10.9 ± 2.5) and remained stable for up to 6 months (mean 10.3 ± 2.2). Pre- and postoperatively, aqueous flare values were 2-3 times higher in FHU eyes than in control eyes with senile cataract (p = 0.01). No postoperative complications such as fibrin formation, synechiae, macrophages on the intraocular lens optic or endophthalmitis were observed in any of the patients. Conclusions: BAB breakdown following phacoemulsification with posterior chamber lens implantation is relatively mild in eyes with FHU and the BAB appears to be fully reestablished to preoperative levels 6 weeks postoperatively, explaining the usually good outcome of cataract surgery in this condition.

Copyright © 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Nhung X. Nguyen, MD
University Eye Hospital, University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6
DE-91054 Erlangen (Germany)
Tel. +49 9131 8534141, Fax +49 9131 8536401 E-Mail nhung.nguyen@augen.imed.uni-erlangen.de

  Article Information

Received: October 31, 2003
Accepted: January 23, 2004
Number of Print Pages : 5
Number of Figures : 2, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 32