Post-traumatic cilia remaining inert in the anterior chamber for 50 years: a case report

Abstract

Introduction: The present report concerns what is, to the best of our knowledge, the first case of post-traumatic cilia that has remained inert for approximately 50 years after its inoculation into the eye.

Case presentation: A 69-year-old Caucasian woman whose right eye had been struck by a dining fork approximately 50 years earlier was examined on presentation two years ago. In her right eye, both uncorrected and best-corrected visual acuities were 0.1 (in decimal notation). Along with a nuclear cataract, a straight linear extension was found extending beneath the iris at the nine o'clock position reaching the center of the pupil, which appeared to be a cilium measuring 7 mm. After the removal of the cilia, an uncomplicated phacoemulsification was performed and a posterior chamber intra-ocular lens was implanted. Her post-operative course was uneventful, and visual acuity remained 1.0 for the 22-month follow-up period.

Conclusions: Intra-ocular cilia can be tolerated for as long as 50 years without causing any ocular reaction.

Figure 1

Cilia in the anterior chamber. This image was taken intra-operatively.

Figure 2

Cilium removed from the eye. A well preserved cilium survived in the aqueous environment for approximately 50 years.

Figure 3

Histopathological picture of the cilium (×10, hemtaoxilyn and eosin stain).