Conjunctival Silicone Granuloma From Breast Implants

Cornea. 2025 Mar 25;44(7):934-936. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000003866.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this report was to highlight a case of migratory conjunctival silicone granuloma formation years after silicone breast implantation.

Methods: A 65-year-old woman with history of silicone breast implant placement presented with an elevated yellow lesion on the bulbar conjunctiva. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography showed subepithelial cystic spaces. Excisional biopsy demonstrated silicone granulomata.

Results: After conjunctival biopsy with amniotic membrane reconstruction, her conjunctiva healed nicely and there was no residual visible lesion.

Conclusions: This case report contributes to our current understanding of the possibility of silicone migration from a distant implant site to the ocular adnexa, specifically the conjunctiva. It is important for corneal specialists and general ophthalmologists to gather a history of exogenous silicone use that could trigger systemic inflammatory responses and granuloma formation distant from the original site of silicone injection or implantation.

Keywords: breast implants; conjunctiva; migration; ocular adnexa; silicone granuloma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Biopsy
  • Breast Implants* / adverse effects
  • Conjunctival Diseases* / chemically induced
  • Conjunctival Diseases* / diagnosis
  • Conjunctival Diseases* / etiology
  • Conjunctival Diseases* / surgery
  • Female
  • Granuloma, Foreign-Body* / diagnosis
  • Granuloma, Foreign-Body* / etiology
  • Granuloma, Foreign-Body* / surgery
  • Humans
  • Silicone Elastomers* / adverse effects
  • Silicone Gels* / adverse effects
  • Silicones* / adverse effects
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence

Substances

  • Silicone Gels
  • Silicones
  • Silicone Elastomers