Purpose: To describe a case of scleroretinal necrosis after a subconjunctival injection of gentamicin in a patient who had an episcleral retinal detachment that was surgically repaired.
Methods: Case presentation.
Results: Thinning of the sclera due to cryosurgery and the induced localized inflammatory response resulting from the surgical procedure, in addition to the effect of the sponge buckle itself, could have played an important role in accumulation and storage of gentamicin under and adjacent to the buckle after injection. The increasingly higher concentration of the drug under the buckle could have induced a greater penetration of gentamicin through the sclera, which could have been the cause of the scleral-chorio-retinal necrosis observed in this patient.
Conclusions: Attention must be given to avoid side effects from subconjunctival injection of gentamicin.