[Severe bilateral capsulorhexis contraction after cataract surgery in myotonic dystrophy: a case report].

INTRODUCTION: The Authors report the case of a 50-Year-old man with myotonic dystrophy, who developed severe bilateral capsulorhexis contracture after uneventful cataract surgery. OBSERVATION: Phacoemulsification was performed in both eyes with implantation of intraocular lenses. The patient came to complain of decreased vision in both eyes (4/10 Parinaud 4). Visual acuity initially improved after surgery to 8/10 P2 in each eye. After 7 months for the right eye and 3 Months for the left eye, the patient presented with dramatically reduced vision, caused by a severe capsulorhexis contracture. Anterior capsulotomies with the Nd:YAG laser were performed in both eyes to treat this complication. It was sufficient on the left eye but the right eye required a surgical anterior capsulectomy to remove the IOL and the bag and put in an Artisan lens. DISCUSSION: Capsulorhexis contracture results from fibrous metaplasia of lens epithelial cells from the anterior capsule. Myotonic dystrophy appears to predispose to the development of severe capsulorhexis contracture after phacoemulsification.