Spontaneous extrusion of an intraocular lens implant

A 51-year-old man with ankylosing spondylitis had intracapsular cataract extraction and anterior chamber lens implantation in the left eye in 1985. He had localized sclerokeratitis around the corneal section and a protracted anterior uveitis in the immediate postoperative period. He developed a spontaneous extrusion of the implant in 1991 (six years later). The extrusion was through a site 1.5 mm posterior to the previous surgical section. There was no corneal decompensation or corneal melt and no history of trauma. Signs of localized scleritis were present. It is suggested that anterior chamber lens implantation should be avoided under these circumstances.