Presumed epithelial inclusion cyst of the iris seven years after radial keratotomy

Abstract

Purpose: To report a case of presumed epithelial inclusion cyst of the iris 7 years after radial keratotomy (RK) that was treated with double-frequency Nd:YAG laser (532 nm).

Methods: A young adult woman underwent bilateral RK for the correction of myopia of -4.50 Diopters 7 years prior to the development of a white mass in the anterior chamber of her left eye. There was no evidence of any other surgery or trauma to the eye during this period. An epithelial inclusion cyst of the iris was diagnosed, and double-frequency Nd:YAG laser (532 nm) was used to coagulate the cyst under topical anesthesia.

Results: The size of the cyst reduced significantly immediately following laser treatment, and the prelaser visual acuity of 6/12 was maintained at 6 months' follow-up without any recurrence.

Conclusions: In the absence of evidence of any other surgery or trauma, the most likely cause of the epithelial inclusion cyst of the iris following RK is epithelial seeding from the original surgery, which is amenable to coagulation with double-frequency Nd:YAG laser.