Giant cysts of the conjunctiva following scleral buckling

Four patients developed giant conjunctival cysts following scleral buckling for retinal detachment. Histologically these cysts showed a core of fibrous tissue lined by stratified, non-keratinizing epithelium and with goblet cells. They probably arose from inadvertent implantation of epithelium during surgery. In three cases the cysts were surgically excised without recurrence. Alternate modes of therapy are discussed.