Ultrasound biomicroscopy in silicone oil-filled eyes

To establish reproducible ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) imaging patterns characteristic of the presence and behavior of silicone oil and of peripheral vitreoretinal proliferation in eyes that have undergone vitreoretinal surgery with silicone oil injection.

The study design was a case series. Ultrasound biomicroscopy was performed on 34 eyes of 34 patients (age range, 20-68 years). For an image to be considered a UBM pattern, it was required to be consistently reproducible in the same eye and to be observed in more than one eye.

Four patterns are described: silicone oil particles, ghost images, "painting" or surface impregnation of iris and anterior chamber angle, and peripheral proliferative vitreoretinopathy. One type of ghost image, the secondary reflection of the cornea, paired with disappearance of the aqueous-silicone oil interface corresponded to massive silicone oil displacement into the anterior chamber. Gross proliferation produced funnel and tentlike images, whereas minute, networklike images seemed to represent early changes. There was a close correspondence between these UBM patterns and previous ophthalmologic clinical findings.

Easily recognizable, distinct UBM patterns are characteristic of conditions found in silicone oil-filled eyes. Ultrasound biomicroscopy seems to be a useful tool for assessing changes in silicone oil-filled eyes.