Search Results (3)

(1) Background: hydrogel scleral buckles (HSB)-related complications can happen decades after implantation, although this material has been retrieved for a long time. Due to its fragile texture, ensuring the complete removal of this material and avoiding complications are challenging. Incomplete removal, iatrogenic complication, recurrent retinal detachment, and infection could occur. (2) Methods: chart review of patients who developed delayed HSB-related complications and received removal of HSB in Taipei Veterans General Hospital from 2004 to 2021. The presenting symptoms, prior diagnosis before referral, clinical findings, image features, surgical technique, operative findings, and outcome were analyzed. Detailed surgical procedure and tips for removal were demonstrated in the study. (3) Results: a total of eleven patients were identified. The presenting symptoms include limitations to extraocular movement (ten eyes, 90.9%), ocular redness (eight eyes, 72.7%), ocular fullness (eight eyes, 72.7%), pain (six eyes, 54.5%), and exposed ocular foreign body (five eyes, 45.5%). Of note, six patients (54.5%) have monocular glaucoma and four of them have intractable high intraocular pressure. All patients underwent surgeries to smoothly remove swollen HSB via transcutaneous or transconjunctival approach. Most symptoms improved after surgery and no cases developed surgical-related complications. (4) Conclusions: although HSB have been off the market for decades, delayed complications are still emerging. Clinicians should remain alert for potential complications for patients with prior HSB surgeries. Early diagnosis and meticulous management can help to safely remove the expanded HSB and reduce the associated complications. Full article

Background: MIRAgel^® (MIRA, Waltham, MA, USA) is a hydrogel scleral buckle introduced in 1979 to treat rhegmatogenous retinal detachments. Its use was discontinued because late complications that require surgical removal were reported. Methods: Case report. Results: We report a case of left eye MIRAgel^® buckle surgery 28 years ago presenting with a tender palpable erythematous swelling at the lower lid, with marked conjunctival chemosis and progressive ophthalmoplegia. Imaging revealed a large, well-defined, horseshoe-shaped lesion in the extraconal space of the left orbit with globe distortion, with histological confirmation of an expanded hydrogel buckle. He recovered well following removal of the explant but developed chronic macular oedema a year later, which persisted despite sub-Tenon’s triamcinolone injections. Repeat imaging demonstrated remaining hydrogel explant. Macular oedema settled well upon successful surgical removal with no recurrence to date. Conclusion: Our case is the first to describe macular oedema as a late MIRAgel-related complication, with complete removal of the explant being the definitive treatment. Macular oedema indicates postoperative inflammation secondary to the remaining explant fragments. Given the friability of hydrolysed MIRAgel^®, we recommend ophthalmologists to warn patients regarding the possibility of further inflammation in the globe or the orbit in case of incomplete removal. Full article

Procedures for the treatment of retinal detachment and related conditions have been successfully improved upon in recent years thanks to the advent of new therapies and biomaterials. This review, after giving an overview on eye structure and function, focuses on the treatment of retinal detachment and examines the role and features of the materials used in vitreoretinal surgery, emphasizing scleral buckling and short-term/long-term vitreous tamponade. Specifically, the limitations of existing biomaterials are underlined, based on experimental studies and with particular reference to cells/material interactions. Finally, current and future trends of biomaterials’ research in the field of vitreoretinal surgery are considered and discussed. Full article