Imaging characteristics of the postoperative globe: a pictorial essay

Recognizing imaging characteristics after ophthalmic surgery is necessary for radiologists to prevent misdiagnosis. We review typical appearances of intraorbital implanted devices and materials on CT and MRI with demonstration of the common surgical procedures. EX-PRESS glaucoma filtration devices appear as punctate areas of metal attenuation on CT and are typically placed at the corneoscleral junction. The imaging manifestations after cataract extraction are absence of the native lens of ovoid mass and the intraocular lens with high attenuation on CT and low signal intensity on MRI. The treatment of retinal detachment is achieved with intraocular tamponade or scleral buckling. In intraocular tamponade, the eye is filled with a bubble of gas or silicone oil. Gas results in air attenuation on CT and low signal intensity on MRI in the vitreous cavity. Silicone oil is hyperattenuating on CT and has variable intensity on MRI. In scleral buckling, the eye wall is indented with silicone buckling elements that show high or low attenuation on CT and low T1- and T2-weighted intensity on MRI. Degraded hydrogel buckling elements appear as swollen masses showing low attenuation on CT and high T2-weighted intensity on MRI.