Fibrinous Reaction Occurs Until 8 Days After Intraocular Lens Implantation

To the Editor. —In a series of 1663 consecutive patients who had undergone extracapsular cataract extraction and implantation of a posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL), a pronounced fibrinous reaction on the anterior surface of the lens requiring subconjunctival injection of steroids for at least 3 days occurred in 32 (1.9% ) eyes. The time of occurrence was from day 1 to day 8, with the mean on day 4.5 (Figure). In 11 of the patients, both eyes had been operated on. In 4 of those, the fibrin occurred in the first eye operated on, and in 7, in the second eye operated on. In none of the patients did it develop in both eyes. Thus, an immunologic reaction as the underlying cause is very unlikely. In all 42 cases, the condition was treated promptly, ie, within 12 hours of its first occurrence, by subconjunctival injection of 8 mg of dexamethasone-21-dihydrogen phosphate