A hydrophilic acrylate implant for scleral buckling: technique and clinical experience.

A new hydrophilic acrylate implant developed for scleral buckling was used in 51 patients: as an accessory meridional piece under a solid silicone buckle in 25 and as a main buckling element in 26 (intrasclerally in 15 and episclerally in 11). Clinical observations six to 18 months after implantation showed the implants to be well tolerated in all cases. There was no infection, rejection, extrusion of the implant, or erosion of the eye coats. In two patients who had reoperations, smooth fibrous tissue encapsulating the implant including the scleral bed was present. Our observations indicate that this new material has all the characteristics of an ideal implant for scleral buckling.