Subconjunctival migration of silicone oil through a Baerveldt pars plana glaucoma implant

Extravasation of intraocular silicone oil through a sclerotomy into the subconjunctival space has been described.1 Oil migration through Molteno and Ahmed implants has also been reported in the literature.2,3 However, literature search revealed no cases of oil migration through a Baerveldt pars plana implant after a vitrectomy. We report such a case. In May 2001, a 58 year old white man presented with dense vitreous haemorrhage, hyphaema, and neovascular glaucoma (intraocular pressure (IOP) was 55 mm Hg by applanation tonometry) associated with proliferative diabetic retinopathy in his phakic right eye (RE), and background diabetic retinopathy in his left eye (LE). Visual acuity (VA) was RE: counting fingers, LE: 20/20. There were mild cortical and nuclear sclerotic cataracts in both eyes. The high IOP along with severe headache and nausea was refractory to maximal medical therapy. A pars plana vitrectomy, endophotocoagulation, and placement of a Baerveldt pars plana glaucoma implant (Model BG-102–350, surface area: 350 mm2 Pfizer Inc, New York, NY, USA) in the superior temporal quadrant allowed an immediate relief of severe ocular and systemic discomfort, and normalisation of the IOP …