To report a case on artificial eyelashes in the anterior chamber from penetrating trauma. 44-year-old female without previous ophthalmologic history presented with a visual acuity of 20/125 in the left eye. Upon ophthalmic exam, eyelashes were found within the anterior chamber with anterior capsular violation resulting in phacoanaphylactic uveitis and traumatic cataract. Corneal stromal scars were noted in the superior cornea, likely a result of penetrating trauma from artificial eyelashes. A combined foreign body removal with cataract extraction and intraocular lens placement (CEIOL) procedure was successfully performed, and vision was restored to 20/20 at her 1 week follow up appointment. The patient was doing well with no complaints or concerns at her 1 month follow up. Anterior chamber foreign bodies are a common occurrence, however artificial eyelashes as intraocular foreign bodies are much less common. Surgical extraction was successful, and the patient returned to baseline vision within a month.

The crystalline lens can cause intraocular inflammation when its capsule is ruptured or allows leakage of lens proteins into the anterior chamber, a condition known as lens-induced uveitis (LIU). LIU is a rare form of uveitis and can be classified based on the integrity of the lens capsule. When the capsule is ruptured, the inflammation is called phacoantigenic or phacoanaphylactic uveitis, whereas if the capsule remains intact but leaks proteins, it is termed phacolytic uveitis. Common causes include ocular trauma, previous surgery, or spontaneous rupture in hypermature cataracts. Initial treatment often involves topical corticosteroids, but surgical intervention is frequently required. We report the case of a 76-year-old male patient with a history of bilateral cataracts and prior cataract surgery in the left eye, who presented with decreased visual acuity and ocular pain in the right eye over several weeks. Examination revealed hand motion vision, normal intraocular pressure, fibrinous membranes in the anterior chamber, and a dense cataract with an intact anterior capsule. Ultrasound and ultrabiomicroscopy demonstrated punctiform echoes organized into a central plasmoid body adhered to the iris and corneal endothelium, in addition to a cataract with a dense and mobile central nucleus, absence of cortex, and an intact anterior capsule. After medical management with topical steroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to control inflammation, the patient underwent phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation. During surgery, a dense Morgagnian cataract with an intact capsule was removed. A whitish opacity behind the lens corresponding to anterior vitreous inflammation was identified and extracted via anterior vitrectomy. Postoperatively, inflammation improved significantly, and at two months, visual acuity recovered to 20/25 with complete resolution of ocular inflammation. This case highlights the clinical presentation and management challenges of LIU, specifically phacolytic uveitis. The presence of a hypermature cataract in an eye without prior surgery or trauma strongly supports this diagnosis. While a phacoantigenic mechanism cannot be entirely excluded, the absence of prior lens capsule violation makes it highly unlikely. Recognizing these atypical inflammatory signs and implementing a combined medical and surgical approach are crucial to preserve vision and prevent complications.