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Oculoplastic and Orbital Unit, Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Adelaide Hospital, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Correspondence to:
Dinesh Selva Oculoplastic and Orbital Unit
Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Adelaide Hospital, North Terrace, Adelaide, 5000, South Australia, Australia; Awestwoo@mail.rah.sa.gov.au
Accepted for publication 27 August 2004
Keywords: diplopia; scleral buckle
In 1979, the hydrogel explant (Miragel, Waltham, MA, USA) was introduced as a scleral buckling material in the surgical management of retinal detachment.1 It was widely used in the 1980s and early 1990s as it was initially believed to be well tolerated, less prone to infection, and easy to manipulate.2 However, long term complications related to swelling and fragmentation of the explant have been reported over recent years,3–6 resulting in discontinuation of its use in 1995.
Case report
A 36 year old healthy man presented on 2003 with symptoms of mild right ocular discomfort. Past ocular history included a right retinal detachment repair 14 years previously, using a 907 (3x5 mm) Miragel scleral buckle (Miragel, Medical Instruments Research Associates, Waltham, MA, USA), sutured to the inferior sclera. On examination, visual acuity was 20/120 right and 20/20 left. There was no diplopia or limitation of eye movements. What was thought to be a small conjunctival cyst was noted inferiorly but, otherwise, the ocular examination was unremarkable and the retina was secure.
A year later (2004), he presented with increasing marked right ocular discomfort and diplopia in all fields. His visual acuity was unchanged, but there was marked restriction of elevation and reduction in adduction of the right eye and binocular diplopia in all fields of gaze. A tense swelling of the inferior conjunctiva was noted (fig 1, top), intraocular pressure was normal, and the retina was flat with a moderate anterior buckle effect. Computed tomography (CT) (fig 1, bottom) demonstrated a right orbital circumferential soft tissue mass surrounding the lower half of the globe with a small area of calcification. The initial diagnosis was a postoperative giant conjunctival cyst and the patient underwent surgery.
Figure 1 Top: Clinical photograph of the right eye showing bulging of the inferior fornix. Bottom: Coronal computed tomographic scan showing a circumferential soft tissue mass surrounding lower half of the globe and a small area of calcification on the inferotemporal sclera.
Intraoperatively, exploration revealed no conjunctival cyst, but a large encapsulated scleral buckle. The explant was friable, gel-like, and translucent, but could be removed in one piece (fig 2). A 3 mm diameter area of scleral thinning associated with calcification was found underlying the buckle inferotemporally. At 1 month follow up the patient was asymptomatic with no diplopia, unrestricted extraocular movements, and the retina was flat.
Figure 2 Top: Intraoperative photograph showing the swollen hydrogel buckle under the inferior rectus muscle (arrow). Bottom: The hydrogel buckle after removal.
Comment
Hydrogel explants are composed of a low molecular weight hydrophilic material that is water permeable. These explants have a tendency to absorb water over the years and increase dramatically in size. The resulting complications range from a non-tender subconjunctival mass to intraocular or external extrusion.3–6 The long time lapse from buckle surgery may result in a high misdiagnosis rate. Kearney et al6 reported 17 eyes of patients with complications related to hydrogel explant swelling. In nine cases the initial diagnosis was incorrect, being mainly Graves’ disease, idiopathic orbital fibrosis, and a subconjunctival inclusion cyst.
In our case, there was a profound increase in the explant volume during a 14 year period. The resulting diplopia and restriction of extraocular movement as well as the clinical evaluation mimicked a giant orbital inclusion cyst. The correct diagnosis was only made intraoperatively. Scleral thinning and necrosis as seen in our case has been reported previously,7 resulting in intraoperative vitreous leak after removal of the expanded explant.8 In our patient, there was an area of thinned sclera, but the surrounding calcification and the early removal of the explant prevented vitreous leak.
It is important to note that patients who have undergone scleral buckling with hydrogel explants before 1995 are at risk of developing this complication. Symptoms of progressive diplopia, pain, and restriction of extraocular muscle movement in these patients should also raise the possibility of explant expansion. The assistance of a retinal surgeon may sometimes be required because of the increased risk of scleral thinning and leakage of liquid vitreous intraoperatively.
References
Refojo MF, Natchiar G, Lui HS, et al. New hydrophilic implant for scleral buckling. Ann Ophthalmol 1980;12:88–92.
Tolentino FI, Roldan M, Nassif J, et al. Hydrogel implant for scleral buckling. Long-term observations. Retina 1985;5:38–41.
Marin JF, Tolentino FI, Refojo MF, et al. Long term complications of the MAI hydrogel intrascleral buckling implant. Arch Ophthalmol 1992;110:86–8.
Roldan-Pollares M, Castillo Sanz JL, Alwad El-Susi S, et al. Long term complications of silicone and hydrogel explants in retinal reattachment surgery. Arch Ophthalmol 1999;117:197–201.
Oshitari K, Hida T, Okada AA, et al. Long-term complications of hydrogel buckles. Retina 2003;23:257–61.
Kearney JJ, Lahey JM, Borirakchanyavat S, et al. Complications of hydrogel explants used in scleral buckling surgery. Am J Ophthalmol 2004;137:96–100.
Le Rouic JF, Bettembourg O, D’hermies F, et al. Late swelling and removal of miragel buckles: a comparison with silicone indentations. Retina 2003;23:641–6.
Metz HS, Rose S, Burkat C. Late-onset progressive strabismus associated with a hydrogel scleral buckle. J AAPOS 2004;8:72–3.