Asteroid hyalosis and vision loss after posterior capsulotomy

We describe the case of a 77-year-old man with asteroid hyalosis who had phacoemulsification and implantation of a plate-haptic intraocular lens (IOL). Intraoperatively, a tear occurred in the anterior capsule, and vision loss occurred 3 months after a neodymium:YAG posterior capsulotomy. Because of the asteroid hyalosis, a posteriorly dislocated IOL, which occurred after the capsulotomy, was difficult to diagnose. Careful retinoscopy established the aphakic condition of the eye, and the B-scan ultrasonography indicated the IOL's location.