Aphakia and Soemmering's Ring Formation

Aphakia with Soemmering's ring formation

Clinical Features

  • Absence of the crystalline lens
  • Very deep anterior chamber
  • Hyperopia in normal length eye
  • Soemmering's ring formation as a result of anterior capsule edges attachment to the posterior capsule in the absence of intraocular lens implantation or if lens was not removed in an intracapsular fashion
  • In the case above, aphakia resulted from extracapsular congenital cataract extraction without intraocular lens implantation.

Causes

  • Cataract extraction surgery without artificial lens implantation.
  • Congenital aphakia.
  • Associated with systemic syndrome i.e. Lowe syndrome or Hallermann-Streiff-François syndrome.

Management

  • Consider artificial lens implantation or contact lens.
  • Aphakic glasses as an option in bilateral aphakias.