Opacification of a CeeON 911A Silicone Intraocular Lens Caused by Deposits on the Optic without Asteroid Hyalosis

This study reports a case of calcific opacification on an implanted silicone intraocular lens (IOL) without asteroid hyalosis. A 72-year-old female was referred for blurred vision in her left eye. Her history showed she had undergone uneventful phacoemulsification with in the bag implantation of a silicone foldable hydrophobic IOL (CeeON 911A, Pharmacia Corporation) 39 months earlier. Under slit-lamp examination, multiple diffuse granular –appearing opacification in the optic were noted. The surgery for IOL explanation and replacement was performed because of significant visual disturbance. Crystals of calcium phosphate in brush form were found under light microscopy. It looked like the feather beside the brush. The scanning electron microscopy revealed a morphous crust-like layer on the curved posterior optic surface of the lens. The transmission detecting systems showed that the transmission rate of the opacified silicon IOL was near 0%. It may have decreased the visual acuity of the patient and limited her daily-activities and stereo-acuity. To our knowledge, this is the first report of surface calcification of a silicone IOL in the absence of asteroid hyalosis. Although the mechanism of calcification has not been determined, careful clinical follow-up of patients with implanted silicone lenses is necessary to determine if this phenomenon is rare and sporadic or if it is more widespread. [Feng-Chi Lin, Han-Yin Sun, Ming-Liang Tsai, Jeng-Shuan Shiang, Shang-Tao Chien, Chi-Ting Horng. Opacification of a CeeON 911A Silicone Intraocular Lens Caused by Deposits on the Optic without Asteroid Hyalosis. Life Science Journal 2010;7(4):173-176]. (ISSN: 1097-8135).