Aphakia and Soemmering's Ring Formation

Clinical Features

• Absence of the crystalline lens
• Very deep anterior chamber
• Hyperopia in normal length eye
• Soemmering's ring formation as a result of anterior capsule edges attachment to the posterior capsule in the absence of intraocular lens implantation or if lens was not removed in an intracapsular fashion
• In the case above, aphakia resulted from extracapsular congenital cataract extraction without intraocular lens implantation.

Causes

• Cataract extraction surgery without artificial lens implantation.
• Congenital aphakia.
• Associated with systemic syndrome i.e. Lowe syndrome or Hallermann-Streiff-François syndrome.

Management

• Consider artificial lens implantation or contact lens.
• Aphakic glasses as an option in bilateral aphakias.