Transmuscular migration and straddling of the cornea by an encircling buckle

Anterior segment optical coherence tomography characteristics and management of a unique spectrum of foreign bodies in the cornea and anterior chamber

Purpose

To report anterior-segment optical coherence tomography (ASOCT) characteristics of different types of corneal and anterior chamber (AC) foreign bodies (FBs) and their usefulness in diagnosis and management.

Methods

This is a retrospective descriptive clinical study involving 11 eyes of 11 patients who presented at the outpatient department of a tertiary ophthalmic care center from January 2017 to January 2022. All patients had a diagnosed or suspected corneal FB. All participants underwent a comprehensive ophthalmological examination, followed by slit-lamp photography and ASOCT. FB removal was done where required by an external, internal, or combined approach.

Results

The mean age of patients was 28.2 (7-53) years. Ten were male, and one was female. Seven patients had a definitive positive history of injury; in one, there was a history suggestive of trauma, one had the post-operative complication of scleral buckling surgery, and two patients had a history of insect fall in the eyes. Three patients had acute, four had sub-acute, and four had chronic presentations. Descemet's membrane (DM) breach was suspected in three cases of deep FB, which was later confirmed on ASOCT. In two cases, DM was presumed to be intact clinically, but ASOCT showed an AC penetration. The FB was removed in seven patients, one via slit-lamp, one via an external approach, two via an internal approach, and three via a combined approach.

Conclusion

ASOCT facilitates non-invasive rapid imaging of ocular tissue at various depths, provides an accurate assessment of FB characteristics, and thereby serves as an additional tool in our armamentarium for diagnosis and management of deep corneal and AC FBs.

Optic nerve compression as a late complication of a hydrogel explant with silicone encircling band

Purpose

To present a complication of compressive optic neuropathy caused by a swollen hydrogel explant and posteriorly displaced silicone encircling band.

Observations

A 72-year-old female patient presented with progressive visual loss and a tilted optic disc. Her medical history included a retinal detachment in 1993 that was treated with a hydrogel explant under a solid silicone encircling band. Visual acuity had decreased from 6/10 to 6/20 and perimetry showed a scotoma in the temporal superior quadrant. On Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), compression of the optic nerve by a displaced silicone encircling band inferior nasally in combination with a swollen episcleral hydrogel explant was observed. Surgical removal of the hydrogel explant and silicone encircling band was uneventful and resulted in improvement of visual acuity and visual field loss.

Conclusions and importance

This is the first report on compressive optic neuropathy caused by swelling of a hydrogel explant resulting in a dislocated silicone encircling band. The loss of visual function resolved upon removal of the explant and encircling band.

Secondary Glaucoma Associated with Encircling Scleral Buckle Migration into the Cornea

Transmuscular migration of the encircling band through rectus muscles and straddling of the cornea has only been reported in a few cases previously in the literature. This rare condition has never been associated with glaucoma. In this report, we aimed to describe a unique case with transmuscular migration of encircling buckle as a probable cause of glaucoma. A 17-year-old female presented with transmuscular migration of buckle and high intraocular pressure (IOP). Limbal/corneal migration of the silicone band was thought to be the main reason for the IOP rise; therefore, scleral band removal was performed. One month after removal, the patient was free of glaucoma medications and IOP was within normal limits. The retina remained attached during all postoperative visits. Transmuscular migration of the encircling band through rectus muscles and straddling of the cornea may act as a trigger for glaucoma.