Flap motility sign: not diagnostic of posterior extension of anterior capsular tears

Abstract

Flap motility sign has been recently described as an aid to guide the surgeons regarding the feasibility of continuing safe phacoemulsification in the presence of peripheral extension of anterior capsular tears. While this sign may seem to provide a safety assurance to the operating surgeon who at such times may be under considerable stress, we believe, this sign may not always hold true and this hypothesis needs further investigation. We present a case in which an everted and fluttering flap was noted in the presence of a complete posterior extension of the anterior capsular tear, thus refuting the accuracy of flap motility sign.