Delayed lens-induced inflammation

Of a 61-year-old woman with bilateral high myopia and bilateral juvenile cataract (which had been operated upon over 40 years ago), the blind and painful left eye was removed because of a tumour-like mass protruding from the pupil into the anterior chamber. Histological examination revealed this mass to be an anteriorly subluxated lens remnant with the posterior side touching the anterior face of the iris. Exclusively in this area of contact there was a typical lens-induced inflammatory reaction. We assume that this reaction could occur only because of the presence of vascular tissue, i.e. the iris stroma. Immunopathological considerations would seem to make this plausible.