Ultrasound biomicroscopy in the diagnosis of persistent hypotony after vitrectomy.

PURPOSE: To describe a case of persistent hypotony after an otherwise successful vitreous surgery for epiretinal membrane, in which ciliochoroidal detachment was detected by ultrasound biomicroscopy but not by ophthalmoscopy.

METHOD: We used ultrasound biomicroscopy to determine the cause of persistent postoperative hypotony.

RESULTS

Ultrasound biomicroscopy clearly disclosed ciliochoroidal detachment. In an attempt to resolve ciliochoroidal detachment, we performed vitrectomy and fluid-gas exchange combined with diathermy around the sites of sclerotomy. Postoperatively, the regression of ciliochoroidal detachment was confirmed by ultrasound biomicroscopy.

CONCLUSIONS

Using ultrasound biomicroscopy, we were able to visualize ciliochoroidal detachment and its regression clearly, which we had not observed during ophthalmoscopy.