Surface calcification of silicone plate intraocular lenses in patients with asteroid hyalosis11Biosketch and/or additional material at www.ajo.com

Early opacification of silicone intraocular lenses: Laboratory analyses of 6 explants

“…14,15 Finally, the occurrence of dystrophic calcification of silicone lenses has been described in eyes with asteroid hyalosis. [16][17][18] More recently, Tanaka et al 19 observed a phenomenon similar to the 6 cases described here in an 83-year-old Japanese patient who had implants with the same IOL design (SI40 NB). The IOL presented with a ''brown haze'' on the first postoperative day.…”

“…However, the latter has been observed only in eyes with associated asteroid hyalosis. [16][17][18] Tanaka et al 19 recently reported a case of optic haze of a 3-piece silicone lens, observed on the first postoperative day. One author of the current study had 4 similar cases with the same lens design and reported the clinical aspects.…”

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.…”

Effect of Ultraviolet B Radiation on the Absorption Characteristics of Various Intraocular Lenses

“…They reported that the pathogenesis of calcification and its precipitating factors remained unclear. Foot et al [31] described an analysis performed on three silicone-plate IOLs (model AA4203, Staar Surgical, Monrovia, Calif., USA), which were explanted because of the presence of calcified deposits on their posterior surfaces observed at least 2 years after IOL implantation and after Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy. All of the patients had clinically observable asteroid hyalosis.…”