APR 25, 2012
Evidence of a Check-Valve Mechanism by the Anterior Hyaloid Membrane
By Atsushi Hirota, MD; Hironori Yoshida, MD; Teruyuki Miyoshi, MD
Video Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
Cataract/Anterior Segment
In this video from Dr. Osher's Video Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Dr. Atsushi Hirota and colleagues describe a clogging effect at the narrow margin between the ciliary body and lens that can occur during intraocular surgery. They call the phenomenon a "check-valve mechanism" at the anterior hyaloid membrane. This check-valve is responsible for blocked aqueous flow during cataract surgery, resulting in misdirected aqueous humor or irrigation and causing high IOP. The video details the relationship between this infusion misdirection, ciliary block, and secondary angle-closure glaucoma.