Scleral rupture during intraoperative silicone oil injection in pars plana vitrectomy

Abstract

Purpose

To report a single case history of scleral rupture (SR) during silicone oil injection in a pars plana vitrectomy.

Observations

A 60-year-old woman with a history of pathological myopia presented with acute vision loss in her right eye. A retinal detachment, with multiple tears, was diagnosed, and she underwent vitreoretinal surgery. During silicone oil injection, a SR, with extra ocular oil leakage, was advised. Due to the small extent of the lacerated area, the SR was left to spontaneously resolve and, after three surgeries, the retina remained attached, with no internal tamponade, and the patient had not presented symptoms or signs of intracranial migration or toxicity.

Conclusions and importance

During silicone oil injection, it is most important to maintain a controlled eyeball pressure, especially in patients with scleral weakness, and to carefully check the drainage of air, due to the risk of SR. When oil leakage is detected in the orbital cavity, an accurate assessment may be required due to the likelihood of progression inside the intracranial structures.