Migration of intraocular silicone oil into the subconjunctival space and orbit through an Ahmed glaucoma valve

PURPOSE: To report a patient with intraocular silicone oil migration into t he subconjunctival space and orbit through an Ahmed glaucoma valve implant. METHODS: Observational case report. A 29-year-old female with diabetes mell itus and proliferative diabetic retinopathy underwent three left eye pars p lana vitrectomies and ultimately intraocular silicone oil placement for tra ctional retinal detachment. Subsequently, she developed neovascular glaucom a and underwent an inferotemporal Ahmed glaucoma tube implant, left eye. RESULTS: Intraocular silicone oil migrated through the Ahmed glaucoma valve into the subconjunctival space and orbit. Left eve evisceration with silic one oil removal was performed for a blind painful left eye and improve, men t of appearance. CONCLUSION: Silicone oil migration through an Ahmed valve may be observed a fter retinal detachment repair with intraocular silicone oil. An Ahmed valv e may be contraindicated in eyes of patients with intraocular silicone oil. (C) 2001 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.