Ultrasound biomicroscopic analysis of haptic position in late-onset, recurrent hyphema after posterior chamber lens implantation.

Late-onset, recurrent hyphema is an uncommon complication of posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation. Pathological studies and indirect clinical evidence, including iris transillumination defects and iris tucking, have implicated haptic-iris contact. The technique of high-resolution ultrasound biomicroscopy developed in our laboratories allows imaging of intraocular lens haptics and their relationship to surrounding structures. Examination of two cases with late-onset, recurrent hyphema revealed that the margins of the superior haptics were sulcus fixated and indenting the peripheral iris. Blood could be traced beneath the peripheral iris in one case. Our findings indicate that haptic-iris contact was the source of bleeding. Capsular fixation should make this complication less likely.