Scleral dellen complicating primary pterygium excision

A case of resistant scleral thinning following uneventful pterygium surgery: A case report and a literature review

Introduction

We describe the management of a scleral thinning after uneventful pterygium surgery, it is an uncommon complication; in addition, we have reviewed similar published cases in the literature.

Presentation of case

A 48-year-old woman presented with thinning sclera in the first week after pterygium excision surgery. Conservative treatment was the first line in the management. There was no improvement for two weeks, so we decided to do a rotational flap. We put a scleral dellen diagnosis by excluding other etiologies. The condition was successfully managed, the thinning sclera healed completely. Scleral and conjunctival re-surfacing was observed.

Clinical discussion

Scleral dellen is an early and rare postoperative complication after pterygium surgery. The diagnosis is confirmed after excluding other causes of scleral thinning. The exact pathophysiology of it is not determined yet, many authors described probable explanation in their published cases. We did a comprehensive review of similar cases with their management.

Conclusions

Scleral dellen is uncommon complication after pterygium surgery, its diagnosis depends on exclusion. The management can be conservative. However, if no progression was detected do not hesitate going for surgical closure.

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We describe the management of scleral thinning after uneventful pterygium surgery.

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Scleral dellen is uncommon complication after pterygium surgery.

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The diagnosis of Scleral dellen is confirmed after excluding other causes of scleral thinning.

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The management can be conservative. However, if no progression was detected, surgical closure is the final management.

Resolution of Corneal Dellen After an Uneventful Pterygium Surgery with Punctal Cautery

Corneal dellen are a rare and serious complication after primary pterygium surgery with conjunctival limbal autograft (CLAG) with fibrin glue without antimetabolites. Dellen are caused by interruptions of the tear film and local dehydration of the cornea. If untreated, they may lead to corneal perforation. We describe the case of a patient who developed corneal dellen 15 days after uneventful pterygium excision with CLAG with fibrin glue without the use of antimetabolites. There was no satisfactory response to lubricants and patching, and the patient had no associated systemic risk factors. As the thinning increased, cyanoacrylate glue with bandage contact lens was applied, but the dellen reappeared seven days after glue removal. Dellen finally resolved with thermal punctal cautery applied to both puncta. Dellen most commonly respond to artificial tears, antibiotic ointment, and patch application. However, in refractory cases, punctal cauterization can be considered as a good option to increase tear pooling in the area of dellen, thereby promoting healing.

Surgical management of peripheral corneal thinning disorders

The peripheral corneal thinning disorders are associated with degenerative, autoimmune, or infective causes. Corneal thinning can subsequently affect the visual acuity either by inducing severe astigmatism or by progressive involvement of the central cornea. In addition to this, the integrity of the eye is at risk. Medical management is necessary to address the underlying inflammatory or infectious causes; however, most of the cases require surgical intervention for tectonic support or for visual rehabilitation in patients with severe astigmatism. Preoperative investigations help in mapping the corneal curvature and thickness, thereby facilitating planning of treatment. Routine corneal transplantation techniques do not yield good results in peripheral corneal thinning disorders. Various surgical modifications have been described to manage these challenging cases. We review the available literature on causes and management of peripheral corneal thinning disorders.

Dellen and corneal perforation after bilateral pterygium excision in a patient with no risk factors

Corneal perforation associated with dellen is a rare but serious complication of a primary pterygium excision. In this case report, we describe a 60-year-old man who underwent a corneal perforation in the centre of corneal dellen in his right eye and corneal dellen in his left eye after the surgical treatment of a bilateral pterygium with a bare sclera technique without adjunctive therapy. He was successfully treated with lamellar keratoplasty in his right eye and a conservative approach in his left eye, consisting of the use of artificial tears, antibiotic ointment and a patch. The clinical evidence from this brief interventional case report indicates that topical lubricants are proper therapy for corneal dellen. However, if corneal perforation is observed, lamellar keratoplasty is a good option.

Corneal and scleral dellen after an uneventful pterygium surgery and a febrile episode

Introduction

We describe a patient with corneal and scleral dellen, which occurred after an uneventful pterygium excision without adjunctive therapy and a subsequent febrile episode.

Case Report

A 43-year-old woman presented with a history of recurrent irritation in her right eye and a diagnosis of pterygium. The pterygium was excised under local anesthesia with the bare scleral technique and without the use of antimetabolites. No complications occurred until 14 days after surgery when corneal and sclera dellen appeared; this was 2 days after a concomitant febrile episode (39°C). Tobramycin and dexamethasone eye drops given after surgery were withdrawn and topical lubricants and antibiotic ointment, in combination with oral L-amino acids, were administered along with eye patching. One week later, the corneal dellen had completely healed and, 4 weeks later, the thinned sclera appeared regularly thick and white in color. Three months after surgery, a small recurrent pterygium was diagnosed, which remained stable without signs of inflammation for additional 18 months.

Conclusions

Corneal and scleral dellen might be a late complication of uneventful pterygium surgery without antimetabolites and a subsequent febrile episode.

Acute scleral thinning after pterygium excision with intraoperative mitomycin C: a case report of scleral dellen after bare sclera technique and review of the literature

PURPOSE

To describe a patient with scleral dellen after pterygium excision with intraoperative mitomycin C.

METHODS

Case report and MEDLINE review of the medical literature on scleral dellen after bare sclera technique.

RESULTS

A 48-year-old man had a left nasal pterygium excised by the bare sclera technique with intraoperative mitomycin C. Eight days after surgery, the patient noticed a small black spot in the bare sclera area with mild irritation. Slit-lamp examination revealed a focal area of extreme thinning, centered on the nonepithelialized bare sclera, surrounded by edematous conjunctiva. The ciliary body was visible through the thin and dry scleral lesion. After topical lubricant therapy, the scleral lesion appeared normal thickness and white in color 3 days later. Therapy was continued until the sclera epithelialized.

CONCLUSIONS

Scleral dellen is an early postoperative complication of bare sclera technique owing to delayed conjunctival wound closure. Hydration of the thinned sclera will rapidly thicken it. However, medical therapy should be continued until the surrounding conjunctiva has flattened and the sclera has epithelialized. Surgical wound closure is an alternative management and may be the way to prevent scleral dellen formation after bare sclera technique. All patients after bare sclera surgery should be followed up until the conjunctival wound has healed. If delayed healing is found, frequent artificial tears, patching, or surgical intervention is necessary.