Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery in a spherophakic lens: An unusual case report

RATIONALE: Spherophakia is a rare diagnosis which is often associated with a shallow anterior chamber, angle-closure glaucoma, lens subluxation, and lenticular myopia. When cataracts occur with subluxation of the lens, vision is often markedly affected. This often presents surgeons with a unique challenge of maintaining good visual outcomes while minimizing potential complications. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 48-year-old female was referred for ophthalmological assessment due to decreased vision in the left eye. In the left eye, the best-corrected visual acuity at distance was 20/125 with manifest refraction of −6.5D + (−0.75) D × 118°. The slit lamp examination showed iridodonesis and a significant nuclear cataract (C3N3) with tremor in the left eye. After pupil dilation, a subluxated lens, weak zonules, and “fake golden ring” within the lens was noted. DIAGNOSIS: Due to the patient's symptoms, examination results, she was diagnosed with cataract, subluxation of the lens and spherophakia in left eye. INTERVENTIONS: The patient underwent an uneventful femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (Alcon Fort Worth, TX). The laser was able to perform a circular free-floating anterior capsulotomy and easy lens fragmentation. OUTCOMES: There were no postoperative complications. At 3 months postoperatively, the uncorrected visual acuity was 20/25, and the manifest refraction was −0.25 D − 0.75 D × 148° with the corrected distance visual acuity of 20/16. LESSONS: Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery is an effective approach for cataract surgery in patients with subluxated and spherophakic lenses, with the benefits of causing minimal further zonular damage and easy lens fragmentation.