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Upper Eyelid Silicone Oil Migration after Sutureless 23-gauge Vitrectomy
Alireza Dehghani1, Leila Rezaei2, Ali Tavallali3
1Isfahan Eye Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Advanced Biomedical Research
|June 7, 2017
Summary
Silicone oil migration caused rare upper eyelid swelling and ptosis after retinal detachment surgery. Early surgical intervention improved the patient's condition, highlighting a unique complication of pars plana vitrectomy.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Retinal Surgery
- Oculoplastics
Background:
- Retinal detachment (RD) surgery often involves silicone oil tamponade.
- Sutureless 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy is a minimally invasive technique for RD repair.
- Silicone oil is a common intraocular tamponade agent used in complex retinal detachments.
Observation:
- A 36-year-old female presented with left upper eyelid and periorbital swelling 5 months post-vitrectomy with silicone oil injection.
- Physical examination revealed mobile subcutaneous lumps in the eyelid.
- Orbital CT scan identified a soft tissue mass in the lateral orbit.
Findings:
- The eyelid swelling and ptosis were attributed to silicone oil migration from the vitreous cavity into the orbit.
- Surgical exploration confirmed the presence of silicone oil in the orbital tissues.
- Postoperative improvement in ptosis was observed after surgical removal of the migrated silicone oil.
Implications:
- This case highlights a rare but significant complication of silicone oil use in retinal detachment surgery.
- Ophthalmologists should be aware of the potential for delayed silicone oil migration causing orbital complications.
- Prompt diagnosis and surgical management are crucial for resolving symptoms associated with silicone oil migration.

