Postoperative sterile endophthalmitis (TASS) associated with the memorylens

PURPOSE: To report 10 cases of delayed-onset acute intraocular inflammation following cataract extraction and posterior chamber implantation of the MemoryLens(R) intraocular lens (IOL). SETTING: John A. Moran Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated 10 cases of postoperative inflammation that occurred after cataract extraction with placement of the posterior chamber MemoryLens IOL. Protocols of the Intermountain Ocular Research Center used to analyze outbreaks of unexplained postoperative inflammation as well as medical records were reviewed. RESULTS: Nine patients had uneventful cataract extraction and 1 had a small anterior capsule tear with placement of the MemoryLens IOL. All 10 patients presented with increased anterior segment inflammation a mean of 7.8 days (range 1 to 21 days) after surgery. Three cases were tapped and were culture negative, and 7 were presumed noninfectious. The anterior segment inflammation improved in all patients. Treatment of the 7 patients included intensive topical steroids. Careful analysis of the inflammation has not revealed an obvious etiology; however, the MemoryLens was associated with all the cases. CONCLUSIONS: We postulate that these cases of noninfectious postoperative endophthalmitis may be associated with the MemoryLens.