In vivo fracture of an extruded polymethylmethacrylate intraocular lens loop

The inferior loop of a semiflexible, closed-loop anterior chamber intraocular lens in the eye of a 72-year-old female fractured at two sites. The loop was composed of extruded polymethylmethacrylate. The inferotemporal portion of the loop was first noted to be broken 25 months postoperatively, and the fractured nasal portion of the same loop was first observed 55 months after implantation. The patient denied any excessive rubbing of the eye or major trauma to the eye or head. Both fractures occurred near the loop-optic junction. The intermittent touch of the cornea by the broken loop caused endothelial damage and edema in the lower one third of the cornea. The two portions of the lens were removed and exchanged with another style of anterior chamber lens. The visual acuity at six weeks postexchange was 20/30.