Syneresis and vitreous hemorrhage in pseudophacia

The eye of a 60-year-old man with a clinically very successful lens implant became available for pathological study after a very sudden and uncomplicated death about 6 months following cataract surgery. The following changes were found: slight non-granulomatous uveitis associated with foreign-body reaction to the lens implant and its supporting iris suture, absence of the anterior vitreous face, advanced syneresis of the central vitreous, vitreous hemorrhage with diffuse layering of erythrocytes on the inner aspect of the remaining vitreous crust, vitreous traction on peripheral and central retina with tenting of foveal internal limiting membrane, and some foveal edema without cystoid changes and without foveolar detachment. Knowledge of all these changes is important, because they were compatible with good visual function and caused no clinical problems.