Management of post-traumatic aniridia with retinal detachment

Abstract

Purpose: To reconstruct the anatomic and functional impairment in patients with post-traumatic aniridia, aphakia, and retinal detachment.

Methods: Four patients with unilateral aniridia and aphakia as well as retinal detachment as results of severe eye injuries underwent scleral buckling, vitrectomy, membrane peeling, endolaser photocoagulation, silicone oil or gas temponade, combined with iris diaphragm-IOL implantation.

Results: All four patients achieved successfully anatomic and functional reconstruction after surgery. During five to 22 months postoperative follow-up, all retinas remained attached. The final visual acuity increased from finger counting to 0.1-0.3.

Conclusions: The combination of vitreoretinal surgery and iris diaphrgm-IOL implantation is an effective method for post-traumatic aniridia, aphakia and traumatic retinal detachment. It could ameliorate photophobia and improve the biocular vision. Furthermore, artificial iris diaphragm implantation could prevent silicone oil-endothelia contact and salvage silicone keratopathy.