Artificial iris diaphragm and silicone oil surgery.

In order to avoid contact between silicone oil and the cornea and subsequent painful corneal dystrophy in aniridial eyes, an artificial iris diaphragm was constructed. It consists of polymethylacrylat (PMMA) and simulates the situation of the iris with a central pupillary opening and inferior iridectomy. To date, these diaphragms have been implanted in 11 cases of the severest ocular trauma with accompanying aniridia and proliferative vitreoretinopathy. In the presence of sufficient residual secretion of the ciliary body (9 cases), the diaphragm assumes the function of normal iris and prevents the silicone oil from coming into contact with the corneal endothelium. The transparent diaphragm ensures a view through to the fundus. In the early postoperative period, there was, as anticipated, a fibrinous reaction in the area of the anterior segment.