Surgical treatment of chemotic conjunctival prolapse following vitreoretinal surgery
T. J. Malone and D. T. Tse
Georgetown University Hospital, Center for Sight, Washington, DC.
The development of marked conjunctival chemosis following vitreoretinal
surgery may be due to extensive intraoperative cryopexy, prolonged surgical
time, removal of edematous corneal epithelium, and postoperative face-down
posturing for an intraocular gas bubble. The fine suspensory attachments of
the conjunctival fornix may be disrupted by the hydraulic dissection of
marked chemosis, leading to prolapse of the conjunctiva through the
eyelids. This problem can be successfully managed by a combination of
conjunctival fornix sutures to invaginate the prolapsed conjunctiva and
temporary suture tarsorrhaphy.
