Prosthetic cosmetic iris implants are a novel way to change eye color, shown is a BrightOcular iris implant, unfortunately they often cause a UGH (Uveitis Glaucoma Hyphema) syndrome. They can also induce cataract and cause corneal decompensation. They are usually made of a thin layer of silicone material, and often need to be explanted because of iritis/glaucoma/cataract.
The silicone iris implant can be segmented or removed in total. The technique used here is to segment the iris implant at the corneal incision and get the iris implant to carousel through the corneal incision on removal, care is taken to guard the corneal endothelium with use of dispersive viscoelastic and a second instrument. A 2.8mm corneal incision is used. This is of great importance, as the cataract wound must be matched to the iris explant wound in this combined case.
Care should be taken to guard the natural lens and corneal endothelium. Not shown on the video, I performed goniosynechialysis to open the PAS formed by the ocular implant. We also performed phacoemulsification and intraocular lens placement at the time of iris implant removal.
Dr. Kavanagh practices at Eye Associates of South Texas with offices in: Seguin, San Antonio, New Braunfels, Luling, Gonzales and Hondo. 830-379-3937. www.eyeassociatesofsouthtexas.com or www.eyestx.com
Dr. Kavanagh is fellowship trained in Glaucoma.
Dr. Kavanagh is a board certified ophthalmologist and clinical assistant professor at University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio Texas, where he has taught many residents cataract and glaucoma surgery. Dr. Kavanagh has performed over 10,000 cataract procedures with intraocular lens implantation. He implants: Restor, Technis Multi Focal (MF), Crystalens, Symfony, and Toric IOLs.
