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LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Year : 2011  |  Volume : 59  |  Issue : 5  |  Page : 406-407

Postoperative conjunctival cyst: A masquerade


Department of Ophthalmology, St. Johns Medical College Hospital, Bangalore, India

Date of Web Publication9-Aug-2011

Correspondence Address:
Bhargavi Pawar
No. 21, 2nd main, 1st Cross, Domlur 2nd stage, Bangalore 560 071
India
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Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/0301-4738.83630

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How to cite this article:
Pawar B, Reddy M, Kamath S. Postoperative conjunctival cyst: A masquerade. Indian J Ophthalmol 2011;59:406-7

How to cite this URL:
Pawar B, Reddy M, Kamath S. Postoperative conjunctival cyst: A masquerade. Indian J Ophthalmol [serial online] 2011 [cited 2024 Mar 29];59:406-7. Available from: https://journals.lww.com/ijo/pages/default.aspx/text.asp?2011/59/5/406/83630

Dear Editor,

In response to the article published by Narayanappa et al., we would like to share our experience in the occasional misdiagnosis of such conjunctival cystic swellings. [1]

A 60 year old male patient presented with diffuse conjunctival swelling and foreign body sensation, 2 months following manual small incision cataract surgery (SICS). His intraoperative and immediate postoperative periods were uneventful and he had completed the scheduled 6-week course of topical steroids. His best-corrected visual acuity was 20/30. On examination, there was a diffuse swelling present in the superior conjunctiva overlying the wound, measuring 16 mm × 13 mm [Figure 1]. Rest of the anterior and posterior segment examination was normal. Intraoperative pressure (IOP) measured 12 mm Hg in both eyes. A provisional diagnosis of postoperative conjunctival inclusion cyst was made and the patient was taken up for cyst needling/puncture with a 26 G needle under aseptic precautions as an outpatient procedure.
Figure 1: Diffuse superior subconjunctival swelling

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On cyst puncture, clear fluid emerged from the cyst with subsequent progressive shallowing of the anterior chamber, indicating a communication between cyst and anterior chamber, similar to filtering blebs. Patient was started on antibiotics, and a pressure was bandage applied for 12 hours. On reopening the bandage, despite the anterior chamber being formed, a leak persisted as evidenced by a positive Seidel's test. The patient was taken up for wound exploration and resuturing under local anesthesia. On exploration, a wound gape (fish mouthing) was found, which was secured by 10-0 nylon interrupted sutures. Postoperatively, a short course of topical steroidantibiotic combination was given. The patient was asymptomatic and had no similar recurrences till the last follow up (6 months).

Filtering blebs or fistulae between the anterior chamber and subconjunctival space are intentionally produced in surgeries such as trabeculectomy, but can occur as a complication of an otherwise uneventful cataract surgery and masquerade as subconjunctival inclusion cyst in the early postoperative period. The reported incidence of inadvertent filtering blebs following cataract surgery ranges from 1% to 7.7%. [2] With the advent of clear corneal phacoemulsification, the incidence of these cysts has reduced. The most common reason postulated for its occurrence is the poor wound healing response following surgery, with egress of aqueous into deeper portions of the scleral tunnel and subconjunctival space. [3] Higher incidence of endophthalmitis and hypotony-related complications has been reported in these patients. [4] The cause for such leaks can be attributed to poorly constructed scleral wounds, large incisions, excess cautery and failure to recognize microleaks intraoperatively. [3],[5] It may prove useful to investigate these patients for underlying systemic causes associated with scleral thinning and delayed healing. Prompt recognition of such fistulas using gonioscopy and ultra sonography biomicroscopy (UBM) helps in better management. [5]

A simple procedure such as needling may uncover a deeper problem such as a communicating fistula, and its risks should be kept in mind. We should perhaps, instead, exercise caution by proper wound exploration under sterile precautions and secure the incision with sutures if required to avoid untoward consequences. This letter stresses the importance of ruling out the possibility of filtering bleb encysted or communicating, in cases presenting with postoperative subconjunctival cystic swelling.

 
  References Top

1.
Narayanppa S, Dayananda S, Dakshayini M. Conjunctival inclusion cysts following small incision cataract surgery. Indian J Ophthalmol 2010;58:423.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2.
Swan KC, Cambell L. Unintentional filtration following cataract surgery. Arch Ophthalmol 1964;71:43.   Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.
Gimbel HV, Sun R, DeBroff BM. Recognition and management of internal wound gape. J Cataract Refract Surg 1995;21:121-4.  Back to cited text no. 3
[PUBMED]    
4.
Stonecipher KG, Parmley VC, Jensen H, Rowsey JJ. Infectious endophthalmitis following sutureless cataract surgery. Arch Ophthalmol 1991;109:1562-3.  Back to cited text no. 4
[PUBMED]  [FULLTEXT]  
5.
Jain S. Inadvertent filtering bleb following sutureless cataract surgery. Indian J Ophthalmol 2005;53:1968.  Back to cited text no. 5
[PUBMED]  Medknow Journal  


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