Sclerosing Agents in Ophthalmology

Abstract

Sclerotherapy is a surgical procedure used for vascular and lympha c malforma ons, in all age groups, wherein a sclerosing agent is injected into a vessel to make it shrink. It involves injec on of the agent intravascularly intralesionally or topically, under direct vision or under the guidance of radiological imaging. Sclerotherapy has primarily been used in ophthalmology for treatment of arteriovenous malforma ons like hemangiomas and caro co-cavernous fi stulas, and lympha c abnormali es like lymphangiomas. Sclerosing agents are chemical compounds which cause endothelial injury leading to infl amma on and vascular thrombosis. They may be classifi ed into various categories like detergents, hyperosmo c agents, cor costeroids, cytotoxic agents etc. A short descrip on on beta-blockers has also been included in this ar cle, even though beta-blockers are not sclerosants per se. Polyvinyl alcohol, sodium tetradecyl sulphate (STS) and ethanol may be used for arterio-venous malforma ons, while for lymphangiomas agents like sodium morrhuate, STS, doxycycline and OK-432 are used. In hemangioma pa ents, cor costeroids and beta-blockers are amongst the fi rst line therapy. Del J Ophthalmol 2012;23(3):219-224.