Dellen formation as a complication of subconjunctival silicone oil following microincision vitrectomy

Abstract

Purpose

To study the subconjunctival silicone oil (SCSO) parameters associated with dellen formation following microincision vitrectomy (MIV).

Patients and methods

This was a case–control study of 20 eyes with SCSO following MIV. Ten of them suffered postoperative dellen formation. Dellen occurrence, their sizes, number of loci, and distance between SCSO and the limbus were recorded. The outcome after silicone-oil removal was evaluated.

Results

The SCSO was at 3.1±1.2 mm from the limbus. All cases with dellen had SCSO within 2 mm of the limbus (P<0.001). No other factors were found to be associated with dellen formation (age, P=0.414; sex, P=0.656; laterality, P=1; indication for pars plana vitrectomy, P=0.655; instrument gauge, P=0.211; circumference involved by SCSO, P=0.252). All the dellen healed after surgical evacuation of SCSO (P<0.001), leaving scars.

Conclusion

Dellen can be associated with MIV secondary to SCSO near the limbus. Resolution with scarring occurred following SCSO evacuation. Therefore, SCSO should be evacuated as early as possible to avoid long-term peripheral corneal morbidity.

Keywords:

• silicone oil-removal
• subconjunctival silicone oil
• dellen
• vitrectomy

Acknowledgments

The preliminary results of this work were presented as a poster in the third ARVO Egypt conference, held in Cairo, Egypt in December 2015.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.