Subtle signs of zonular damage

Purpose: To describe 5 subtle signs of zonular damage. Setting: Cincinnati Eye Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. Methods: Three patients with a history of ocular trauma and 1 patient with Marfan's syndrome are described. During the preoperative examination, subtle signs of zonular damage were detected. As a result of the early recognition, critical modifications in cataract surgery technique and technology were made. Results: The signs of zonular damage identified in the patients were visibility of the lens equator during eccentric gaze, decentered nucleus in primary position, iridolenticular gap, changes in the contour of the lens periphery, and focal iridodonesis. Conclusion: Identification of subtle but important signs of zonular damage will better prepare the surgeon for a challenging surgical procedure.