Reduced rate of retinal detachment following silicone oil removal

To investigate the rate of retinal redetachment and other complications after silicone oil removal over a 4-year period.

Retrospective analysis of charts of patients who underwent vitrectomy and silicone oil injection between January 1994 and June 1998 followed by oil removal.

Sixty-eight eyes of 67 patients were included. The average follow-up time after oil removal was 15 months. Significant retinal redetachment developed in 6 eyes (8.8%). The redetachment rate was slightly higher in the 32 eyes with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (9.3%) than in the 36 eyes with other pathologies (8.3%). The average time to redetachment was 4.2 months. These eyes were reoperated and reattached, and at the end of the follow-up, three retained silicone oil. Two other eyes without redetachment were hypotonus after oil removal. Cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation were performed at the time of oil removal in 18 eyes; 2 (11%) developed redetachment. Visual acuity improved significantly after oil removal (P < 0.001).

The rate of retinal redetachment after removal of silicone oil in recent years is low compared with previous series. The authors attribute this reduction to the improved surgical management of complicated retinal detachments; particularly, the introduction of perfluorocarbon liquids and wide-field viewing systems and the widespread use of endolaser.