Snowflake degeneration is a slow progressive opacification of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) intraocular lenses (IOLs). This late postoperative complication can occur a decade or later after implantation. The deposits are composed of IOL materials that tend to aggregate centrally. There is a relative paucity of the literature on snowflake degeneration of IOLs. Symptoms can range from mild visual disturbance to significant loss of visual acuity. In cases of opacification after IOL implantation, the different diagnosis should include snowflake degeneration to prevent surgical intervention such as lens exchange or explantation unless clinically warranted. We report a case of late optical opacification of a PMMA IOL, the clinical diagnosis and treatment that increased best corrected vision.
Keywords: Intraocular lens opacification; Polymethyl methacrylate; Posterior capsule opacification; Snowflake degeneration.