Sir, Silicone oil is toxic to the cornea causing endothelial failure and band keratopathy.1 In traumatic aniridia and aphakia, there lacks a barrier for silicone oil between the posterior

and anterior chambers. Therefore, if retinal surgery is also required, silicone oil tamponade may cause the cornea to decompensate unless an artificial barrier can be constructed. We report

a novel technique in a patient following globe rupture. CASE REPORT A 43-year-old male who had previous penetrating keratoplasty for keratoconus endured blunt trauma to his left eye. He had

total iris loss and required a repeat penetrating keratoplasty and lensectomy due to the globe rupture. Three weeks later, he had a total retinal detachment with severe proliferative

Within 2 months, he developed a membrane at the level of the retention suture, seperating the silicone oil from the anterior chamber. Laser capsulotomy was initially planned, but he

subsequently spontaneously developed a central opening within the membrane (Figure 1b). His retina remained flat under oil, and visual acuity at 4 months follow-up was counting fingers.

DISCUSSION Retention sutures are effective in preventing corneal decompensation in aniridic eyes requiring silicone oil tamponade.2 This is because of the surface tension of silicone oil and

its propensity to stay as a single bubble within the vitreous cavity. The method described above allows for one continuous suture to be used in forming the barrier, and is an alternative to

the previously described technique using multiple sutures. It is not known if the hexagonal shape is better than others at stimulating peri-silicone proliferation and membrane formation,3

the rate of which may also vary between patients and with topical steroid use. In our case, an opening in the membrane formed spontaneously, but in others, laser capsulotomy may be required.

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Gentile RC, Eliott D . Silicone oil retention sutures in aphakic eyes with iris loss. _Arch Ophthalmol_ 2010; 128 (12): 1596–1599. Article  Google Scholar  * Asaria RHY, Kon CH, Bunce C,

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references AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Department of Ophthalmology, St. Thomas’ Hospital, London, UK R Wong, E J K Lee & M Shunmugam Authors * R Wong View author

publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * E J K Lee View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * M Shunmugam View

author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to M Shunmugam. ETHICS DECLARATIONS COMPETING INTERESTS The authors

declare no conflict of interest. RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Wong, R., Lee, E. & Shunmugam, M. Novel technique for silicone oil

retention suture with secondary auto capsulotomy of fibrin membrane. _Eye_ 27, 280–281 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.2012.266 Download citation * Published: 14 December 2012 * Issue

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