CYSTIC EPITHELIAL DOWNGROWTH FOLLOWING CLEAR-CORNEAL CATARACT-EXTRACTION

Epithelial downgrowth is a serious complication of intraocular surgery . It is characterized by the diffuse or cystic proliferation of surfac e epithelium inside the eye. Advances in microsurgical technique that result in smaller surgical wounds and permit greater precision in woun d closure should reduce the incidence of this complication. We report a case of epithelial downgrowth presenting 3 years after an uncomplica ted clear-corneal catarct extraction with insertion of a posterior cha mber silicone lens. The epithelial downgrowth was amenable to surgical correction because the well-defined cyst could be excised en bloc.