Complications by liquid plastics in ophthalmic surgery. Histopathologic study.

Retrospective morphological studies of ocular tissues after treatment with liquid plastics reveal many complications induced by the material. Cyanoacrylates for punctal occlusion glide into the lacrimal sac and lead to obstructive dacryocystitis and even to reactive xanthogranuloma. The use of this glue in combination with a hard contact lens as 'artificial epithelium' provokes a remarkable stromal and endothelial cell loss of the cornea. Intraocular silicone oil sometimes induces a massive epiretinal macrophage activity with storage of the material or reactive fibrosis when it gets into the subretinal space. Liquid alloplasts for intraocular lens surgery of the future are tested in experimental studies but are still not satisfactory.