Toxic anterior segment inflammation following cataract surgery

Cataract extraction with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation is rarely complicated by an acute, sterile, anterior segment inflammation. We report three unrelated cases of acute intraocular inflammation following uncomplicated cataract extraction and posterior chamber intraocular lens placement. A constellation of clinical features were found in these cases. The hallmark of this entity was an acute toxic inflammatory reaction occurring in the anterior segment on the first postoperative day. Typically, widespread corneal edema with diffuse corneal endothelial damage occurred, accompanied by a fixed, dilated pupil with significant iris atrophy and sometimes a severe secondary glaucoma. Since all cultures were negative, the resulting inflammatory processes were not a result of endophthalmitis. We believe that a toxic insult introduced into the anterior chamber at the time of surgery precipitated the acute inflammatory processes seen in these cases.