Surgical Removal of Persistent Pupillary Membrane with Stegmann Scissors

Purpose: Persistent pupillary membranes (PPMs) are common congenital disorders. However, the membranes, occluding the visual axes and resulting in reduced visual acuity, are relatively uncommon. To reduce the amblyopia, we used Stegmann scissors to remove the persistent pupillary membrane and reviewed the surgical result. Methods: We report 7 eyes from four children (mean age 5±0.8 years) with extensive persistent pupillary membranes. The post-operative follow-up period ranged from 12 months to 34 months (mean 19±12.7 months). The membrane strands were carefully cut with the Stegmann scissors (Angle 25 Length of blade 1.7 mm, Cat. No. 612.21), and removed from the anterior chamber with micro forceps. Results: After surgery, visual acuities were improved and pupillary apertures were round and cosmetically good in all of the 7 eyes. No complications were found including cataract formation or elevation of the intraocular pressure. Conclusions: The persistent pupillary membranes sufficiently dense enough to cause a significant reduction in vision and amblyopia. Improvement of acuity could be achieved by using the surgical removal of Stegmann scissors.