Abstract
PURPOSE: To report a case of disappearance of lens epithelial cells (LECs) detected at the time of treatment for intraocular lens (IOL) dislocation 12 months after cataract surgery. OBSERVATIONS: A 59-year-old male underwent phacoemulsification with implantation of a posterior chamber acrylic IOL for posterior subcapsular cataract without any complications. Twelve months after cataract surgery, the IOL was dislocated inferiorly from the capsular bag due to rubbing the eye strongly, without capsular deviation. Fibrotic changes around the anterior capsular margin and posterior capsular opacification were not observed. During IOL repositioning, adhesions between the anterior and posterior capsules or zonule weakness were not observed. Six months after repositioning, the in-the-bag IOL dislocated into the anterior chamber because of zonular dialysis caused by strong eye rubbing again. Several days after scleral fixation of the IOL, the intraocular pressure decreased, possibly due to leakage from the wound. On inquiring about details, it was informed that the patient had a habit of sleeping in the prone position, with his face touching the pillow. After discontinuing this habit, his visual status stabilized. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPORTANCE: LEC may rarely disappear 12 months after cataract surgery. Although LEC survival is affected by various factors, minor trauma, such as slight eye rubbing and sleeping in a prone position, may influence IOL stability in the capsular bag and be related to early postoperative LEC disappearance.