Soemmering’s Ring in a Spontaneous Partially Absorbed Lens: A Case Report

Abstract

Soemmering's ring and spontaneous lens absorption are two distinct conditions that are uncommon and unlikely to occur simultaneously. We report a case of a 67-year-old man who presented with blurred vision in his left eye and has had poor eyesight since birth. His right and left eye visual acuities were 6/7.5 and hand movement (HM), respectively. There was no relative afferent pupillary defect (RAPD). The right eye’s examination was unremarkable. The left eye revealed a spontaneous rupture of the anterior lens capsule with partially absorbed lens material and the presence of Soemmering's ring. There was no evidence of phacodonesis. The left fundus appeared slightly hazy, while the retina appeared flat. Extraction of the left eye lens was performed for the patient, and he was left aphakic. In this case, the patient's Soemmering's ring was linked to the ruptured anterior lens capsule followed by spontaneous partial absorption of lens material, which caused deposition of residual lens filaments near the equator of the capsule sac. In addition to ocular trauma, patients with congenital rubella infection of the eye, uveitis, and Morgagnian cataract have reported spontaneous absorption of lens material. The exact mechanism by which cataracts dissolve spontaneously is unlikely to be the same in all patients. This patient who has had an unsightly left eye since birth is presumed to have been born with an ocular infection complicated by amblyopia. The presence of both the Soemmering's ring and spontaneous lens absorption is unusual in this case. Early attention to the precious fellow eye is critical to ensure that the other unaffected eye maintains an adequate vision and allows independent patient mobility.