Abstract
Purpose: :
Intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (IFIS) is a triad of signs seen during phacoemulsification in patients on alpha-blocker therapy, which confers an increased risk of intra-operative complications. Our purpose is to present the incidence of IFIS, as well as its intraoperative complications, among the patients at a large teaching hospital in the US.
Methods: :
A database of 1617 cataract surgery patients (2301 eyes), who underwent cataract surgery between April 2002 and November 2007 at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, was queried to yield all patients who had been on alpha-blocker therapy at the time of phacoemulsification. We then performed an extensive chart review on this sub-set of patients to establish the incidence of IFIS, and its intra-operative complications, such as irideal damage, vitreous loss, and PC tears, etc.
Results: :
Of all eyes in the database 56 (2.4%) were on alpha-blockers at the time of phacoemulsification. 26 (46.2%) of these exhibited signs of IFIS during surgery. 7 eyes suffered irideal trauma, 5 eyes had a PC tear, and 3 experienced vitreous loss. Iris hooks were needed in 21 eyes.
Conclusions: :
The incidence of IFIS and the rates of its complications are consistent with previously reported studies. Further studies on larger populations are indicated.
Keywords: iris • treatment outcomes of cataract surgery • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: outcomes/complications