Tarsoconjunctival Flap for Scleromalacia related to Treatments for Conjunctival Melanoma
January 19, 2023: Drs. Paul T. Finger, Harsha S. Reddy and Abhilasha Maheshwari have just published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology Case Reports. They describe the first use of a tarsoconjunctival pedicle flap for the repair of melting sclera, secondary to treatment of conjunctival melanoma. This technique protected the eye from rupture and infection for 5-years! Previously tarsoconjunctival flaps have been used to reconstruct lower eyelid defects after tumor removal.
Conjunctival melanomas may be rare, but scleral thinning is common. Scleromalacia perforans can be caused by systemic connective tissue disease, inflammatory processes (vasculitis, infection), and/or trauma. Scleral defects associated can perforate and allow for intraocular infection called endophthalmitis (a purulent inflammation of the intraocular fluids (vitreous and aqueous) usually due to infection).
This study was supported by The Eye Cancer Foundation. For more information visit: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451993623000130
Conjunctival melanomas may be rare, but scleral thinning is common. Scleromalacia perforans can be caused by systemic connective tissue disease, inflammatory processes (vasculitis, infection), and/or trauma. Scleral defects associated can perforate and allow for intraocular infection called endophthalmitis (a purulent inflammation of the intraocular fluids (vitreous and aqueous) usually due to infection).
This study was supported by The Eye Cancer Foundation. For more information visit: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451993623000130