Iris alteration using mechanical iris retractors

A 74-year-old woman had a 3-port pars plana vitrectomy for a dropped nucleu s after complicated phacoemulsification. Flexible nylon iris retractors; we re positioned to dilate the small pupil. The patient died of a pulmonary em bolus 1 day after surgery. The eyeball was removed at autopsy, and patholog y of the iris was investigated. Localized damage to the ids where the retra ctor hooks were positioned was noted, but no other alterations to the iris were observed. These findings may explain the recovery of pupil function th at is common after surgery with mechanical iris retractors. (C) 2001 ASCRS and ESCRS.