Complications Assoicated with MIRAgel for Treatment of Retinal Detachment.

MIRAgel (MIRA, Waltham, MA) is a hydrogel buckle that was introduced in 1979 as a new scleral implant for the treatment of retinal detachment. Long-term follow-up of more than 10 years revealed that the hydrolysis of the synthetic hydrophilic material leads to marked expansion of the substance, causing complications such as buckle extrusion and intrusion, eye motility disorder, cosmetic deformities, and periocular infections. Removal of the implant is the treatment of choice in cases with complications, but it is technically difficult due to the friability of the implant, severe scleral ectasia, and relatively high rate of redetachment after removal.