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Traumatic cataract and Wieger's ligament
P C Campanella1, A Aminlari, R DeMaio
1Department of Ophthalmology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey 17033, USA.
Ophthalmic Surgery and Lasers
|May 1, 1997
Summary
Blunt eye trauma can cause posterior subcapsular cataracts by avulsing Wieger's ligament. This study analyzed two cases, revealing a unique lens capsule defect linked to this ligament in young patients.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Trauma Surgery
Background:
- Posterior subcapsular cataracts can result from blunt ocular trauma.
- Wieger's ligament, a remnant of the embryonic hyaloid artery, is located at the posterior lens capsule.
Observation:
- Two young patients with traumatic cataracts and no penetrating globe injury were analyzed.
- A smooth, oval defect was noted in the posterior lens capsule during cataract extraction.
- The defect's morphology corresponded to the anatomical border of Wieger's ligament.
Findings:
- Blunt force trauma appears to avulse the lens capsule at the insertion site of Wieger's ligament.
- This specific avulsion mechanism explains the observed posterior subcapsular defects in traumatic cataracts.
Implications:
- Understanding this mechanism can aid in diagnosing and managing traumatic cataracts.
- This finding highlights a novel pathway for ocular injury related to blunt force impact.