OBJECTIVE: To assess the patency of the superior ciliary sulcus in aphakic silicone oil-filled eyes by ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM). DESIGN: Prospective interventional series. PARTICIPANTS: Twelve eyes of 12 patients were included in this study. METHODS: Twelve aphakic silicone oil-filled eyes were evaluated using UBM. The UBM examination of the anterior segment was performed using the Humphrey Instruments UBM equipped with a high-frequency (50 MHz), high-resolution (50 microm) transducer. The patients were placed in a semisitting position in which their backs were inclined to a suitable angle (about 50 degrees ). They were also asked to look straight ahead, to bring the superior ciliary sulcus to the highest point of the globe. The probe approached the patients' eyes superiorly at a slight angle (about 10 degrees ). Images of the superior ciliary sulcus were captured and analyzed. RESULTS: The UBM images demonstrated an intact curved aqueous-silicone oil interface that appeared at some distance from and not filling the ciliary sulcus. A patent superior ciliary sulcus was thus found in all patients, even in those with a widely opened ciliary sulcus. CONCLUSIONS: The superior ciliary sulcus maintained its patency in aphakic silicone oil-filled eyes. These findings indicate that an iridectomy in a superior position may also be effective, although this has not been tested clinically in this report.
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