L’intervento di cataratta, anche in assenza di complicanze intraoperatorie, può presentare una complicazione postoperatoria rappresentata dalla comparsa di una reazione acuta infiammatoria conosciuta con l’acronimo di TASS che può determinare un danno più o meno cronico a carico del tessuto intraoculare.
Scopo dello studio è valutare le caratteristiche d’insorgenza di tale complicanza e la risposta alla terapia medica. Sono stati considerati 14 pazienti affetti da TASS con insorgenza acuta (12-48 h) dopo intervento di cataratta non complicato e valutati mediante esame biomicroscopico alla lampada a fessura, esame del tono e valutazione del fundus oculi.
La terapia steroidea intrapresa nell’immediato postoperatorio ha determinato un rapido recupero visivo in 11 pazienti dopo 1 settimana.
L’impiego protratto di steroidi topici o sottocongiuntivali si è dimostrato efficace in tutti i pazienti.



european journal of ophthalmology
Features, Causes and Prevention of Toxic Anterior Segment Syndrome (TASS) – An Outbreak Investigation

Ozcelik ND, Eltutar K, Bilgin B.

European Journal of Ophthalmology
2010;20:106-14



Purpose. To evaluate the anterior segment examination findings and the response to medical therapy of patients who had toxic anterior segment syndrome (TASS) after uncomplicated cataract surgery.

Methods. Fourteen eyes of 14 patients were enrolled in the study. Visual acuity, biomicroscopic anterior segment examination, intraocular pressure measurement, and fundus examination were performed to assess TASS occurring during postoperative 12–48 hours after uncomplicated phaco surgery. The visual impairment, corneal edema, tyndallization, fibrin formation, hypopyon, vitritis, and response to steroid therapy were evaluated prospectively.

Results. After topical steroid therapy lasting for 1 week, visual acuity improved in 11 eyes. No significant visual improvement occurred in 3 eyes. Significant corneal edema was found in 4 and mild corneal edema was observed in the other 10 eyes. Fibrin reaction occurred in 5 and tyndallization in various degrees was positive in all eyes. There was a 1-mm hypopyon in 1 patient. There was no sign of vitritis and steroid therapy was effective in all of the patients. In addition to topical treatment with steroid and antibiotic drops; systemic and subconjunctival steroids were used in 3 patients who had fibrin formation and in one patient who had hypopyon .

Conclusions. After uncomplicated cataract surgery, toxic anterior segment may occur in the early postoperative period, which is treated successfully with steroids. More studies are needed to understand the multifactorial risk factors affecting the etiopathogenesis of this syndrome.