Choroidal detachment in aphakic uveitis.

The presence of choroidal detachment in an eye is a familiar finding most commonly seen after intraocular operation, when it occurs with a shallow or absent anterior chamber and ocular hypotony. Fuchs (I900) quoted an incidence of only 4-7 per cent. after cataract extraction, but a more accurate figure is the 59 per cent. given by Venco and Giardini (I947) relating to the immediate postoperative period. These detachments have usually subsided by the end of about 3 weeks and require no treatment, but they may also be found long after operation when re-opening of the wound incision is the factor responsible. However, other types of choroidal detachment exist, and Duke-Elder and Perkins (I966) have classified these as exudative, due to ocular inflammation or vascular congestion; spontaneous, with no obv'ious aetiology; traumatic, haemorrhagic, purulent, and tractional. The case described here is rare, demonstrating choroidal detachments in an aphakic eye 20 years after operation, though it was considered that the detachments were unrelated to the previous surgery and were exudative in type.