Posters

Scleral patching in scleromalacia

Poster Details

First Author: M.Fioretto ITALY

Co Author(s):    A. Grosso   A. Colonna   M. Orione   W. Sannita           

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To describe a surgical approach for sclera patching in scleromalacia

Setting:

Surgical rooms, Santo Spirito Hospital Casale Monferrato Three patients with large uveal hernia and scleromalacia from different conditions (vitreoretinal surgery, glaucoma surgery, scleritis) underwent sclera patching.

Methods:

Surgery remains elective in the event of extensive scleral hernias, melting or imminent risks of perforation. We report about implanting a portion of donor sclera (obtained from Torino eye bank, Italy) after 70° alcohol treatment to denaturate proteins and minimize the receiver’s immunological response.

Results:

The original convexity of the donor sclera was not modified by surgery and adaptability to the receiver’s was good. The conjunctiva was completely attached at the corneal limbus and its vascularisation involved the donor sclera at inspection by slit lamp after one month. Patients could wear cosmetic contact lenses and had satisfactory aesthetic results. One patient’s patch was fully attached and vascularised at the observation 18 months after patching during strabismus surgery.

Conclusions:

Scleromalacia is not uncommon and the structural and aesthetic damage it induces can be disabling or require enucleation. In our patients, the eye fragility has been counterbalanced by a simple surgical procedure, in the absence of complications such as inflammatory reactions, eye melting or necrotic processes and with satisfactory aesthetic results. The occasional late observation of one patient during strabismus surgery has documented the successful implant of the donor sclera.

Financial Disclosure:

None