Scleral buckle (SB) removal is done for a variety of reasons following treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRD), such as buckle exposure, migration, and infection. The most worrying complication of SB removal is retinal redetachment. We report a unique case of a patient developing strabismus about one month after scleral buckle removal for anterior migration and exposure of the scleral buckle. We also share a successful strabismus surgery which had a main aim of relieving diplopia in the patient\'s primary gaze.

We report a case of restrictive strabismus caused by early scleral buckle (SB) migration within 1 month of surgery after successful medical management of SB infection. A 24 year-old man underwent scleral buckling surgery for left eye inferior retinal detachment (RD). A solid silicone buckle element was placed inferiorly along with an encircling silicone band. Two days after surgery, he presented with SB infection. Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus was cultured from the exudate at conjunctival suture sites. Since the retina was well attached and it was only the second postoperative day, it was decided to retain the buckle. SB infection was treated with intravenous cefotaxime and topical fortified cefazolin and successfully eradicated. One month thereafter, anterior SB migration was noted on slit lamp biomicroscopy. Restrictive strabismus and diplopia were also noted. Eventually, SB removal was performed at 2 months. This case report highlights the role of infection and subsequent inflammation as a cause for buckle migration and restrictive strabismus in the early post-operative period. These changes can be seen as early as 1 month after primary surgery and may occur even after successful medical management of the SB infection.