Giant string Elschnig’s pearls

Authors

  • Leopoldo Garduño Vieyra, Dr. Clínica Oftalmología Garduño; Irapuato, Guanajuato (México)
  • Verónica Muñoz Cornejo, Dra Clínica Oftalmología Garduño; Irapuato, Guanajuato (México)
  • Francisco Javier Rodríguez Ramírez, Dr. Clínica Oftalmología Garduño; Irapuato, Guanajuato (México)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31288/oftalmolzh202226364

Keywords:

pearls of Elschnig, opacity, capsulotomy

Abstract

Background. Elschnig pearls are cells that migrate from the   capsule of the lens and can cause posterior subcapsular opacity (PCO) 

Case: 29 years old male PO extracapsular cataract extraction two years ago, came for decreased visual acuity secondary to PCO. After the first capsulotomy 8 months ago, he developed giant Elschnig pearls at the edge of the capsulotomy forming a pearl necklace that cause the poor vision again.

Conclusion. More studies are needed on the evolution of the disease to help assess the best time to give invasive treatment or wait for spontaneous disappearance of the pearls.

References

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2.Jose RM, Bender LE, Boyce JF, Heatley C. Correlation between the measurement of posterior capsule opacification severity and visual function testing. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2005; 31:534 -542. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrs.2004.07.022

3.Findl, O, Neumayer, T, Hirnschall, N, & Buehl, W. Natural Course of Elschnig Pearl Formation and Disappearance. Investigative Opthalmology & Visual Science, 2010. 51(3), 1547. https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.09-3989

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5.Kato, Katsuhiko; Kurosaka, Daijiro; Bissen-Miyajima, Hiroko; Negishi, Kazuno et al; Elschnig pearl formation along the posterior capsulotomy margin after neodymium:YAG capsulotomy, J Cataract & Refract Surg: Dec 1997; 23(10) : 1556-1560 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0886-3350(97)80029-6

6.Caballero A, Salinas M, Marin JM. Spontaneous disappearance of Elschnig pearls after neodymium: YAG laser posterior capsulotomy. J Cataract Refract Surg. 1997 Dec;23(10):1590-4. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0886-3350(97)80035-1

7.Georgopoulos M, Findl O, Menapace R, et al. Influence of intraocular lens material on regeneratory posterior capsule opacification after neodymium: YAG laser capsulotomy. J Cataract Refract Surg 2003; 29:1560-1565. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0886-3350(03)00345-6

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Published

2025-08-27

How to Cite

1.
Garduño Vieyra, Dr. L, Muñoz Cornejo, Dra V, Javier Rodríguez Ramírez, Dr. F. Giant string Elschnig’s pearls. J.ophthalmol. (Ukraine) [Internet]. 2025 Aug. 27 [cited 2025 Aug. 28];(2):63-4. Available from: https://ua.ozhurnal.com/index.php/files/article/view/379

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