Negative Dysphotopsia after Uncomplicated Phacoemulsification

Abstract

Purpose: To describe the complaint of images of darkness or crescent like shadow in the temporal field of patients after undergoing cataract surgery, termed as negative dysphotopsia (ND).

Material and Methods: Three patients of either gender are described, who underwent uncomplicated phacoemulsification with in-the-bag implantation of Acrysof acrylic intraocular lens (IOL), model SA60AT (Alcon – USA), under topical anesthesia at surgical day care of Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. All procedures were performed from March 2008 to October 2012. First two patients were 65 and 67 years old ladies, while the third patient was a gentleman, age 56 years.

Results: All three patients complained of ND symptoms. The first patient’s symptoms lasted for one year at her last visit. The second patient’s symptoms disappeared within three months without any specific treatment. The third patient still had the complaint, one month post-operatively.

Conclusion: ND is a relatively common post-operative complication after uncomplicated in-the-bag IOL implantation. In majority of the patients, symptoms are transient but some