Determination of the nature and origin of the metallic foreign particles appearing on the iris after phacoemulsification.

Purpose: To determine the nature and the origin of metallic foreign particles appearing on the iris after phacoemulsification surgery.

Setting: P.D. Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Design: Case series.

Methods: Metallic foreign particles were observed on the iris surface and the pupillary border on the first postoperative visit after phacoemulsification. One metallic particle, which was stuck to the iris surface, was removed intraoperatively and sent for metal analysis along with the phaco needle, the wrench used to tighten the phaco needle to the phaco handpiece, and the anterior chamber maintainer used during phacoemulsification. The composition of the elements was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to determine the origin of the metallic particle.

Results: Foreign particles were seen in 11 eyes. On SEM, 3 elements (carbon, magnesium, and silicone) were common in the metal particle and 4 elements (carbon, magnesium, silicone, and titanium) on the wrench. The elements in the phaco needle (titanium) and anterior chamber maintainer (manganese, iron, and nickel) did not match those in the metal particle.

Conclusion: The metal contents of the metallic particle extracted from the eye matched some of the constituent metals of the wrench that was used to tighten the phaco needle on the handpiece just before surgery.

Financial Disclosure: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.