A Case of Thick Anterior Capsule of Hypermature Cataract in Down Syndrome

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We report a case of severe thickening of the anterior capsule in a case of hypermature cataract with Down syndrome. METHODS: A 30-year-old woman with Down syndrome underwent intracapsular phacoemulsification followed by in-the-bag implantation of an intraocular lens (IOL) under general anesthesia. Pathologic examination was performed. The anterior capsule was then incised at the 12 o'clock position by intraocular scissors because continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC) was too difficult given the thickened anterior capsule. Intracapsular phacoemulsification was followed by in-the-bag implantation of IOL and the incised anterior capsule was trimmed. RESULTS Pathologic findings of the extracted anterior capsule documented a thickening of the anterior capsule 20-fold over that of a normal anterior capsule as well as depositions of fibroblasts and collagen materials. Six months after the operation, the patient's visual acuity was 0.3 and no complication was found.