Surface calcification of a 3-piece silicone intraocular lens in a patient with asteroid hyalosis

Effects of Intraocular Lens Opacification on Light Scatter, Stray Light, and Overall Optical Quality/Performance

“…The deposits could be partially removed with Nd:YAG laser, but there was a reaccumulation after the procedure because the asteroid bodies are rich in calcium/phosphate. [8][9][10] Snowflake degeneration is a slowly progressive condition; it is the result of PMMA degradation caused by long-term ultraviolet light exposure, not calcium deposition. The degree of optic opacification of the majority of the PMMA lenses included in this study may take 10 to 20 years to develop.…”

“…[2][3][4][5][6][7] Silicone lenses were also shown to calcify in eyes with asteroid hyalosis. [8][9][10] The condition named snowflake degeneration of rigid polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) lenses still leads to explantation of a significant number of these IOLs, although it is usually observed in three-piece lenses manufactured in the 80s and early 90s. 11,12 Calcification and snowflake degeneration are leading causes of clinically significant IOL opacification.…”

Silicone intraocular lens surface calcification in a patient with asteroid hyalosis

“…Silicone IOLs, which are polymers of silicone and oxygen, are considered to be very stable and inert in vivo, and unlike acrylic IOLs rarely adhere to either tissues or foreign bodies [9,10]. Although the calcification of silicone IOLs has been reported [6,7,11], its mechanism has not yet been elucidated. In this study, calcification of the posterior IOL surface was observed in the region where the posterior capsule had been disrupted by Nd:YAG treatment.…”

“…A strong relationship between systemic diseases and asteroid hyalosis is reported [3,4], but its pathogenesis remains unknown [1]. Particles deposited in the vitreous humor are reported to be comprised of calcium and phosphate crystals [5], and reports of some calcification of silicone intraocular lenses (IOLs) indicate that the main components are calcium and phosphate as well [6,7]. We investigated the substances present on the posterior surface of an IOL in a patient with asteroid hyalosis.…”

Clinical manifestations and pathogenesis of hydroxyapatite crystal deposition in juvenile dermatomyositis

“…These calcifications, which contain hydroxyapatite (HA) as the major mineral component, occur in other connective tissue diseases, such as scleroderma [2•]; in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), where accelerated vascular calcification has been identified [3]; and in metabolic disorders (renal disease) [4]. HA deposits also occur in association with inflammation in a variety of other tissues including the eye after implantation of silicone ocular lenses [5] or the breast after silicone breast implants [6].…”