Needle aspiration and endodiathermy treatment of epithelial inclusion cyst of the iris

To report a case of recurrent epithelial inclusion cyst of the iris treated with needle aspiration and endodiathermy.

Case report. A 27-year-old man with a history of congenital cataracts, congenital nystagmus, cataract surgery in each eye at 3 years of age, and a long-standing iris epithelial cyst presented with decreased vision of 20/400 in the better seeing left eye. The reduced vision was diagnosed secondary to growth of the iris inclusion cyst over the pupil.

The iris cyst, which occluded the chamber angle and pupil, was treated with aspiration, separation of the cyst wall from the cornea, and endodiathermy. Twelve months after cyst surgery, no evidence existed of epithelial cyst regrowth. The visual function was significantly improved, although Snellen visual acuity was unchanged at 20/400.

The minimal invasiveness of needle aspiration and diathermy can result in a satisfactory outcome without undertaking more extensive and invasive surgical treatments for epithelial inclusion cysts of the anterior chamber.