Retained Presumed Intraocular Cotton Fiber after Implantable Collemer Lens Implantation: A Case Report

Retained intraocular foreign body is a known complication of ophthalmic surgery. The presence of intraocular cotton fibers after ophthalmic surgery is well-documented in different procedures including cataract and vitreoretinal surgeries. This report describes a case of retained cotton fiber after implantable collamer lens (ICL) implantation. This report describes a case of a 23-year-old female who was diagnosed with high myopia and mild astigmatism. The patient was selected to undergo ICL implantation in her right eye. The postoperative examination was done a few hours after the procedure, and a cotton fiber was incidentally found to be attached to the posterior surface of the ICL without causing visual disturbances or any other abnormal findings. This patient was followed up closely within the 2 postoperative weeks, and a 1-year follow-up did not reveal any change in the cotton fiber place or position, nor was there any other complication. In conclusion, cotton fibers are typically inert and usually do not lead to major complications. The decision of whether to surgically remove these fibers or not should only be made after weighing the benefits against the risks of such intervention. Recurrent inflammatory reactions or iridocyclitis related to the presence of cotton fibers could validate surgical intervention; however, the presence of cotton fibers solely does not necessitate early surgical removal.