Surgical Management of Cyclodialysis Cleft: An Update

A cyclodialysis cleft develops when the meridional fibers of the ciliary muscle detach from the scleral spur, creating an aberrant aqueous drainage pathway between the anterior chamber and suprachoroidal space. Blunt ocular trauma and intraocular surgery have been identified as the most frequent causes. Cyclodialysis has been documented after phacoemulsification, extracapsular cataract extraction, secondary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, goniotomy, trabeculotomy, trabeculectomy, and other intraocular surgeries. The new aqueous drainage pathway may lead to persistent severe ocular hypotony and its associated complications, which include cataract, choroidal detachment, retinochoroidal folds, disk edema, macular edema, and rarely, irreversible vision loss. The potentially blinding nature of this condition warrants early identification and appropriate management. Restoration of the attachment of the ciliary body (CB) to the sclera and closure of the cleft are the primary objectives of treatment. The etiology, pathophysiology, and surgical treatment of cyclodialysis cleft are discussed in this review.

Sethi A, Udenia H, Beri N, et al. Surgical Management of Cyclodialysis Cleft: An Update. J Curr Glaucoma Pract 2025;19(3):143-152.