Posterior capsule tear caused by misalignment within a silicone irrigation/aspiration tip☆

Accepted 12 November 2003.

Abstract

We describe a surgical complication with the Alcon silicone irrigation/aspiration (I/A) tip. In 2 consecutive cases, the posterior capsule was torn because of a misalignment between the inner metallic shaft and the hole in the silicone I/A tip. To achieve the protective benefits of this device, the surgeon must visually confirm proper alignment of the outer silicone and inner metallic portion of the tip.

a Cincinnati Eye Institute, Cincinnati, OH, USA

b Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA

c Hospital do Olho de Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

Reprint requests to Robert H. Osher, MD, Cincinnati Eye Institute, 10494 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45242, USA

☆ Neither author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

PII: S0886-3350(04)00077-X

doi:10.1016/j.jcrs.2003.11.059

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