[Surgical treatment of hyperplastic persistent pupillary membrane]

Clinical findings of two patients with persisting pupillary membranes are described and therapy is discussed. The indication for excision of the pupillary membrane was constituted in one patient (age 6 weeks) by complete occlusion of the optic axis, in the second (age 4 months) by absence of any recordable fixation. In both cases the pupillary membrane could be separated from the anterior lens capsule without lens damage. No strabismus or lens opacification were detected postoperatively. Surgery was undertaken with the intention of avoiding primary lentectomy, since pupillary membranes can usually be separated easily from the anterior lens capsule with viscoelastic substances.