Capsular block syndrome: a case report and literature review

Mauricio Vélez, Luis F Velásquez, Sebastián Rojas, Laura Montoya, Katherine Zuluaga, Kepa Balparda

Pontifical Bolivarian University, School of Medicine, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia

Purpose: To report the case of a patient who developed late capsular block syndrome and to review the current literature regarding this complication of phacoemulsification procedures.
Methods: The literature was reviewed to summarize the diagnosis, classification, use of diagnostic aids, and the current treatments for this complication.
Results: A 69-year-old patient complained of decreased visual acuity 11 months after undergoing phacoemulsification. She was found to have a secondary myopization. Anterior segment ultrabiomicroscopy confirmed the diagnosis of capsular block syndrome. The patient underwent neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser posterior capsulotomy, which resulted in complete resolution of her symptoms.
Conclusion: Capsular block syndrome is a fairly rare complication of phacoemulsification procedures that, depending primarily on the timing of its occurrence following surgery, can develop into one of the three following possible clinical scenarios: intraoperatory, early postoperatory, and late postoperatory. In this patient, Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy was shown to be a safe and effective treatment option for this type of complication.

Keywords: continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis, phacoemulsification, cataract