Iridodialysis

Blunt trauma may cause iridodialysis, or traumatic separation of the iris root from the ciliary body (Fig 14-14). Anterior segment hemorrhage often ensues, and the iridodialysis may not be recognized until the hyphema has cleared. A small iridodialysis requires no treatment. A large iridodialysis may cause polycoria, polyopia, and monocular diplopia, requiring surgical repair (Figs 14-15, 14-16) (see Surgical Management later in the chapter). If possible, the iridodialysis should be repaired within a few weeks of the injury, because prolonged contracture of the radial iris fibers may prevent a round pupil after normal iris anatomy is reestablished.

Figure 14-14 Severe iridodialysis resulting from blunt trauma.

(Courtesy of David Rootman, MD.)

Figure 14-15 Repair of iridodialysis. A, A cataract surgery–type incision is made at the site of iridodialysis or iris disinsertion. A double-armed, 10-0 polypropylene suture is passed through the iris root and out through the angle and is tied on the surface of the globe under a partial-thickness scleral flap. The corneoscleral wound is then closed with 10-0 nylon sutures. B, In an alternative technique, multiple 10-0 Prolene sutures on double-armed Drews needles are passed through a paracentesis opposite the site of iris disinsertion to avoid the need to create a large corneoscleral entry wound.

(Reproduced from Hamill MB. Repair of the traumatized anterior segment. Focal Points: Clinical Modules for Ophthalmologists. San Francisco: American Academy of Ophthalmology; 1992, module 1. Illustrations by Christine Gralapp.)

Figure 14-16 Repair of iridodialysis with polypropylene sutures. A, Traumatic iridodialysis. B, A needle is passed across the anterior chamber through the limbus opposite the dialysis for reattachment. C, Normal pupil following suturing of the iridodialysis. The arrow points to the polypropylene suture.

(Courtesy of Woodford S. Van Meter, MD.)

Cyclodialysis

Traumatic cyclodialysis is characterized by separation of the ciliary body from its attachment to the scleral spur, resulting in a cleft. A hyphema may result from the tearing of the tissue. Gonioscopically, this cleft appears as a gap at the posterior edge of the scleral spur from posterior displacement of the ciliary body band. Sclera may be visible through the gap. Ultrasound biomicroscopy can be useful in identifying the location and extent of the cyclodialysis (Fig 14-17). A cyclodialysis cleft can cause increased uveoscleral outflow, leading to chronic hypotony, and macular edema. If treatment with topical cycloplegics does not suffice, closure may be attempted using an argon laser, diathermy, cryotherapy, or direct suturing. If repair is necessary, it should be performed after resolution of the hyphema.

Excerpted from BCSC 2020-2021 series: Section 10 - Glaucoma. For more information and to purchase the entire series, please visit https://www.aao.org/bcsc.